Day 149 - 151- Sept 12 to 14 Peoria, IL to LaGrange, IL to Grafton, IL

Pre-dawn departure from Peoria, IL

After a much-needed day to lay low and fight off colds, we left the Peoria Boat Club at first light (well, almost first light).  Sure looks purdy, doesn't it?

Well, for me, the jury is still out.  We were hunkered down in a friendly marina, but with a caution to be inside the gate by nightfall.  Places for boats to stop are problematic, with shoaling along the sides and no real marinas.  But, it is a place that is a stop because there are no options before or after.

Can you tell which end has already been filled?

Keep making that power.

Don't be fooled by these photos.  It is not all industrial along this stretch.  When we didn't see these kinds of installations, all there was to see was trees.  The river is largely devoid of recreational boating.  Nor was there much evidence of homes along the river because the level of the river can vary dramatically, as will be shown in other pictures.
Nice pile of firewood waiting for someone to pick up.
Notice the next picture has more.

Then there was this episode...  There I was, calmly peeling a tangerine. A particularly fussy tangerine.  When all of a sudden, out of nowhere, the boat came to an abrupt halt and slewed over to the port side.  Yipes!  How did the river bank jump out in front of us like that??

That's the last time I trust Grady with the helm.
uh huh, right...

We have no idea what this thing is.

Always nice to see original artwork along the way.

An improperly marked and oddly situated dredge.

Do they VRBO out the pods at the top? They have windows.

We waited three hours for this tow to be fully disassembled, lowered and reassembled through the lock.  So, we nipped around the corner and anchored for the night.  Three more tows came through the lock overnight.  Ask me how I know.

We were ready to call it quits after the 3 hour wait to get through that last lock. So we anchored for the night for the first time on the Loop.

The boat was covered with mayflies in the morning.  I think they came aboard to die.

Paul washed most off before I got a picture. 

Even a blind duck should be able to figure this out.

See that?  Up on the hill?  That's the reason we are headed south. I think fall will catch us.

Really, ducky, it's just a giant hay bale.

This was the last boat that Grady drove.  I should have known.
I think it is some guy's idea of lawn art.

3 loaded and a 4th empty?

I think this must mean the river rises here.

Notice how the stilts are getting taller?

A string of barges, moored to a tree. 
 The junior-most crewman gets to jump into the mud to untie it.

But really, that little line could hold that big monster?

Grain dust, be careful that stuff is explosive. 


More grain storage.

We were pleased to see bald eagles several times along the river.

Terra Point Inn must have a nice view.


The ferry at Grafton.

Big, beautiful home overlooking the river at Grafton.

Grafton is mile zero of the Illinois Waterway, 305 miles from Lake Michigan.

DAY 151   September14

A second day at Grafton, IL.
You know the routine, groceries, laundry, blah, blah... 
The marina did have a courtesy car so it was easy to drive the 15 miles to Jerseyville to get those groceries.

This gorgeous building is the Jersey County Courthouse.

The walk back to the boat after dinner with the folks from Knot on Course. We had met Jeff and Crystal on the East Coast start of the Loop. It was fun comparing notes of our journeys. 

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