Rollin', Rollin', Rollin' on the Mississippi

We have not had strong enough wi-fi or enough AT&T bars to get on the internet lately! So I will have to summarize the highlights of the last 3 days. 

 This is a picture of the Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club in Peoria that was built in 1907. Inside they have a high water flood mark that is a couple feet off the floor of the second floor level.  

 We had over two hours to wait at the Peoria Lock with no place to tie up. Don invited solo-sailor Hinnerk from Germany to raft off us and come aboard for coffee. He is doing the Loop after sailing across the Atlantic from Germany.

There is also a canoeist almost done with the Loop!!!

There was a narrow entrance to Tall Timbers Marina...but we made it through and joined KC and Scott  for a lovely happy hour on Jet Stream. I actually took this picture the next morning as we were leaving....notice how clear the visibility is! That was soon to change.

In about 2 miles we were completely enveloped in fog! We turned the radar on, and at least no barges were coming. Luckily the chart didn't show any buoys so that meant there was deep water across the entire river. We went very slowly, sounding our fog horn, trying to stay out of the main channel. Finally we saw a buoy, and went outside the channel to anchor. We had 8 ft. under the boat...but were  concerned about the anchor getting caught on a deadhead. You can just see the buoy in this picture.   We had breakfast, and no barges came along! When the fog lifted in about 40 minutes, we raised the anchor and were on our way.

We marvelled at all the beautiful spider webs that showed up, enhanced by the fog's moisture. 

Our 8th and final lock on the IL River was our fastest---no wait at all! Kate was happy to meet Jack! 

We traveled one hundred miles and arrived at Mel's Illinois Riverdock Restaurant where you can stay at their dock overnight for $25. Also on the dock were Tango from Montreal, Northern Spirit from Britt, Ontario, and Maia from Deltaville, VA. We all enjoyed dinner together, sharing our boating stories.

 From the high-rises of Chicago.....to the high-rises of the Illinois River!!!

If you look closely you will see water coming out of the crane's bucket, washing off the cover of the barge!


Since last Monday, we have traveled 327.4 miles down from Chicago to where the Illinois River flows into the Mississippi!!!

We actually turned north on the Mississippi and went up to Port Charles Harbor to spend a couple days. The river was flat....and not looking too "mighty." We really don't know how long we will be here....because of a MAJOR PROBLEM. Lock 27, near St. Louis, 46 miles from here, is closed for repairs. The Coast Guard has been on the VHF radio telling the barges where to "park" and wait. It has already been 24 hours, and it is still not "fixed." Maybe by the time the lock is opened, I will have stopped singing "Proud Mary"....rollin', rollin', rollin' on the river! Sure hope we get rollin' sometime soon!

This map gives you some idea of the extensive river systems here in the Mid-West. 

We still need to travel 221.5 miles down the Mississippi to Cairo, where we will turn east onto the Ohio River, and go upstream only about 60 miles to the Cumberland River. 

But first we have to get through Lock 27!!!