The five boats pictured yesterday decided to travel together the 46 miles to Heritage Harbor near Ottowa IL. We got up early to leave at 7:15 a.m. so our tallest boat Rose's Pick could pass under the raised RR bridge before 7:30. The rest of us did not need the bridge raised. The first lock was two miles down river - Brandon Road. The group had to wait about an hour before we could use the Lock.
Locks-1, Pleasure Boats-0.
Locks are very helpful in changing altitude levels but they do take some preparation. First bumpers must be attached to the boat sides to provide a buffer between boat and cement lock wall.
All boats gather above the Lock. When all the barges are through the lock, it is our time to file in one at a time. The lockmaster tells each boat where to go on the "Wall" and whether it should use a rope or a bollard.
A Bollard is a tube that moves down as the water is drained from a Lock. A rope is wrapped around the Bollard and back to the original cleat. An "S" type wrap is used which can quickly be moved if the boat gets hung up on the wall.
One of the benefits of a catamaran is that the flat deck surfaces supply great seats while working locks. A Bollard is handled by one person. Another time we will show you ropes that need two people to handle. The skipper has to move from the wheel quickly to the rope and then back again when we leave. With a Bollard the Skipper can stay at the wheel or help with the bumpers.
When the lock master blows a whistle, the boats file out one at a time in the order specified.
The second Lock was Dresden Island Lock, 14 miles below the first lock and four miles below the entrance and name change to the Illinois River from Des Plaines River. Guess what, we waiting about an hour on Dresden. It was not as deep a lock as the first one so we moved through it more quickly.
Locks-2, Pleasure Boats-0
Tom, my favorite capitan, enjoyed the October sun as he waited. He is great steering with his feet !
It appeared to be hunting season on the river!
The last lock of the day was 28 miles below the second lock and 2 miles before Heritage Harbor, our home for tonight.
Most would think that after two Locks, we would have everything running smoothly. Wrong. Prior to each lock, Bob would call ahead to let them know a group of 5 pleasure boats would be arriving in so many minutes. When he called Marseilles Lock, he was told they would work us in with the barges but expect to wait. We waited over two hours! Remember the current does not stop and the wind continues to blow. We moved back and forth above the lock for a very long time.
When we finally got the go ahead, it was after a very large barge very sl
owly cleared the lock giving us just enough room to slide behind it into the lock. The lock master encouraged our first boat to enter the lock. Who wants to go that close behind a very large barge!
Pictured is the barge about halfway out of the lock.
So after about four hours of waiting up river from locks, we finally reached Heritage Harbor and were happily welcomed by the staff.
Locks-3, Pleasure Boats-0 Locks are in a world of their own. Locks Rule!
Some people may wonder what happens to pushers when they are no longer used?
They become RESTAURANTS !!!
