Lost Lock October 4, 2008

Looking back under the bridge, we wished Peoria goodbye!

Catrina had a late start from Peoria Docks. Five miles down was the Peoria Lock and Dam. Tom called ahead and learned that we could go over the dam. What no lock? The waters were higher than the dam so the dam was lowered and down the river we went. It was like the dam was not there! Sorry, guys, no picture!

South of the Lock that wasn't was a 35 mile stretch with no marinas or anchorages. Now we find out that it is recommended that we start early in the day so that we can make it to the next facilities before dark. We goofed on the leave early part and with the high water/swift current, we really did not have to worry about a slow trip. Tom pulled one motor up and we chugged along at 5 mph plus 2 for current and averaged 7-8 mph without the second motor. Some of the things we passed along the way were:

Little Tug Boats from Holland MI.

The Corp of Eng resetting markers.

A Green Marker hidden under a log.

Many Markers were just missing!

The beginning of color along the shore.

Cottages along the shore.

And last but not least we got passed by two of our friends Joy@Sea and Barbara and haven't seen them since!

About 3 p.m. we arrived at the Tall Timbers Marina a few miles above Havana. We needed to stop and get gas. Cynthia Faye and Catrina found Baby Grand whom we last saw at Joliet. The Marina was closed but the owner promised to arrive at 7 a.m. and pump gas! It was an easy decision to spend the night rather than head for the next mooring 30 miles down. We could see how high the water was in this Marina. We estimated that the water levels had dropped about 6 feet but were still 4-8 feet above normal. The owner said waters were still 11 feet over normal! Floating docks were a great invention.

The group of six loopers was joined by a new looper from Burnham just above Chicago. We had a 5 p.m. get together on the dock with lots of nats flying about, a warm shower and dinner aboard!

PEORIA LAKE October 3, 2008

Peoria was our game plan today - 45 miles down river. Cynthia Faye and Catrina enjoyed a very easy, sunny day on the River! Captain Tom was seen on the foredeck running the boat. Please note his right hand.

The water level was still up about 4 feet. There were fewer logs to dodge and only occasional barges. We saw many homes on the west coast of Upper Peoria Lake and Peoria Lake. The Lake is formed by the backwater from the Peoria Lock just below that town.

There were more markers in the River and some were very unique. Please note the log draped around the marker.

Along the way Joy@Sea joined us but was soon showing us her stern. They had spent the night in Henry just below Hennepin. Barbara, the boat, came from Chillicothe and greeted us at the Peoria Waterfront. Communication between boats either by radio or cell phone is a good way to find out about your next stop. Barb and Ken let the rest of us know that the Peoria Dock was now available during the night and was free but donations would be accepted.

We arrived in the early afternoon and tied up on the high side of the dock with Madison and Marlene on Joy@Sea and Linda and Jack on Cynthia Faye. A quick hike around the area gave us the information that Octoberfest was being celebrated above our heads (30 feet away) by food stands and a band from 5 to 11 p.m. This should be fun.

Tom and Debbie discovered that Walmart was on the other side of the Illinois River. We took our dingy across, tied to a tree and hiked up the bank - and there was Walmart! A picture (below) from across the River showed our three boats under Octoberfest.

Barbara (above) was moored downriver on the other side of The Spirit of Peoria, a paddle boat.

When we returned to the West side of the River, the drummer was warming up. It was an easy decision to move down the river and join Barb and Ken. Shortly afterwards, Linda and Jack appeared. We definitely made a good choice!

Patience October 2, 2008

We said goodbye to Heritage Harbor, a nice marina with a stalled land development community three miles above Ottawa, and headed 35 miles to Hennepin, a small town with grain elevators and barges/pushers. Only one Lock today (thank goodness) nine miles down at Starved Rock. We started off early before our tandam partner Linda and Jack in Cynthia Faye. When we got within a few miles of the Lock, we slowed down to idle to wait for Cynthia Faye. We followed the barge/pusher Tony Pepper into the holding area.


Perhaps you can imagine that a boat this long would not fit into a Lock and needed to be divided!








Three and one half hours later we left the lock. Now that is a record and not the kind we wanted to make. First a very large barge came up. It had been separted to get it into the lock. We watched them drag half out and then pushed the second half out and hooked them together. That took over an hour and a half. As it headed northward, the waiting barge entered the lock. We hoped that there would be room for us. No way. We watched it go down. Then another barge come up. In the mean time another south bound barge had arrived. I don't know who was looking out for us but at that point (3 hours), we were told to enter the lock. We think the barge captain gave his okay for us to go before him. We left through a very small hole at the bottom end of the lock and a waiting northbound barge. We were so happy to get that Lock behind us!









The next 25 miles Catrina chugged along at 8 to 9 miles an hour thanks to a good current. An hour and a half out we passed the first barge that had left the Lock 3 hours before us!







Today there was an increased amount of water in the river. Trees stood along the banks in water. Fields along the river were covered with water. We were concerned that the free docks at Hennepin might have been washed away. As we motored, we watched carefully for floating logs and limbs. This is supposed to prepare Debbie for the Mississippi!





Finally, at four we reached Hennepin and found the floating docks intact. Workers were grading the shore adjacent to the docks. It was our suspicion that the water level had finally descended to the point that grading was possible. Today Debbie learned how to moor in a strong current and how to motor with autopilot on a curvy river.




Hennepin is a one block town. It has a Laundry, Hardware Store, Restaurant/Bar. Three blocks inland is the Courthouse with a Children's play area in the front yard and a Post Office across the street. We had one of our best dinners in the Restaurant with Soup, Salad, Main Course (three meats, pototoes, vegetables and spagetti) and Pudding and Fruit dessert all for $10 each. Jack was looking for home cooking and he sure found it!




The one drawback to this free dockage were the barges that came in for a few hours to leave garbage and restock. Their wake would rock our boat and sometimes pullng our disc off the satellite enough to cancel what the Vice Presidental Candidates were saying!











This Pusher's company Florida Marine Transport. We passed it earlier in the day and then it stopped by during the night to restock!


























































Above is the Florida Marine Transport that we passed earlier in the day. The Pusher came into Hennepin to Restock right next to us!

LOCKS October 1, 2008

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 slowly 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 !!!

On the Wall September 30, 2008

Joliet has made us feel very welcome. There is a cement wall lining the Des Plaines River with tie ups and electrical hook ups provided FREE to all transient boats. Water is available. The Chamber of Commerce is located at the head of the wall just below the bridge. What more could you want when you are "On the Wall"? Across the River are the Government Buldings, Police Station, Bus Station and Casino. Stores are not as close but the city has provided buses to most places we wish to travel.

We started the day with five boats On the Wall. After dinner three more boats arrived. We had another 5 p.m. "meeting" to coordinate our departure tomorrow morning. There is a bridge within a few hundred feet that needs raising and a lock in two miles. The group decided to leave at 7 a.m. so that we are not stopped by the bridge that cannot be raised between 7:30 and 8:30.

Bob and Peggy from Denver are in the lead boat "Baby Grand," you guessed it - a Grand Banks.

They will call the bridge and lock.

Next in line are Madison and Marlene from Fort Myers FL in Joy @ Sea, a Grand Banks.

Jack and Linda from Holland MI were with us at Benton Harbor MI. They are traveling in a 34 foot Marine Trader called Cynthia Faye.

In front of us are Rose and Gary from Portland OR in Rose's Pick, a 44 foot Carver Boat.

Last but not least (but definitely lowest) our very own Catrina!

It is very easy to get to know one another as everyone is interested in making friends with similar lifestyles. It does not seem to matter that we are in a sailboat or using gasoline rather then diesel. We are all "loopers" today located On the Wall together!