9/21/2017

We left the IVY Club on Monday morning at 8:15 on 9/18.  It did not start out well.  When Tim put boat in gear, we heard a "thud".   Probably something below us at dock.  Fingers crossed, props are OK.
We arrived Peoria lock at 9:20 & did not get thru till 10:55.  Our plan was to anchor behind Quiver Island.  As they say, the best laid plans....  Water again skinny.  We registered 3 feet not far in & we were afraid to chance it.  Unable to get into marina, Tall Timbers, again due to skinny water.  Our next hope was Logston Tug service.  Once again fingers crossed.  We had no cell service, so unable to call & confirm room for us.   We made it at 5:45 & the boats already there, moved & tightened up to get us in.  By now it was raining.  It had been a long day for Riley.  Now we needed to get him on the barge avoiding all manner of logs & lines & cleats to get him to a steep, metal grate stairway.  It did not go well.  He got his leg stuck between some logs.  He was crying, but we finally got him out.  I examined him, but could find no injury.  When we got him to land he had difficulty squatting.  Not good, since that is the position for dogs to relieve themselves.  He did not poop that night.  (TMI?).  He did not sleep well that night either.  Luckily he had a good day patrolling for Asian Carp.

RILEY ON PATROL

We left that harbor of refuge at 7:30 on Tuesday morning (9/19).  We had to go thru one more lock on  the Illinois, the La Grange.  We had heard there was shoaling on the down bound side of & tows were lined up all along the river on both sides of the lock.  We got to the lock just in time to go in.  We had to agree that we drafted less than 3.5 feet or they would not let us thru.  I agreed!  Just wanted to get to the other side & figure it out from there.  Anyway there were boats in front of us that would run aground before we did.  As it turned out we were never in any less than 8 feet of water.  The day started out with thick fog that did not burn off until noon.  Still no cell service.  Riley gave up on the carp until he heard one hit the boat & he kept guard until we got to port.  It was a slow run.  Tim could not take it up past 1000RPM's due to the vibration.  The boat will have to be looked at.  We were passed by trawlers!  We finally arrived in Grafton, IL at 5:30.  Grafton was a nice port.  They had a swimming pool which we used as it was in the 90"s.  Riley got a bath.

SUNSET GRAFTON HARBOR

TIM STEERS WITH HIS FOOT

LEAVES STARTING TO TURN

ROCK CLIFFS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI

And finally today Thursday 9/21.  We only ran for 2 hours & no locks.  We are in Alton, IL.  Plan to stay today & tomorrow.  Have not been to town yet.  Too hot & muggy to walk.  Tim is renting a car so we can do some shopping to get ready for the next leg of the trip.  Marinas will be far apart.  Also he needs oil as it is time for a change.

We passed Our Lady of The Rivers Shrine.  It was erected in 1951 when the village of Portage des Sioux was saved from flooding.  Every year in July they have a blessing of the fleet there.

OUR LADY OF THE RIVERS

Random Musings

Things I miss:

My Friends 

2 ply TP

Nail places, I was reduced to doing my own pedicures!

Identity Hair Design, thinking of shaving my head!

Things Riley misses:

Being off leash & running

His walks in the Kopf Reservation

Things Tim misses:

Breakfast at Bay Diner (Me too)

His chair

TV

We will be leaving here tomorrow, Saturday.  No Marinas for at least 3 days & probably no cell or Internet connection.  Wish us well😀



Just realized I never posted this, so I will just add to it.  It is Saturday 9/23.  We made the decision not  to leave Alton today.  We will not leave till Wednesday.  We are waiting out the heat.  90 degree days at a marina with a pool & power to use our air conditioning sounded like a really good idea.  Riley rarely leaves the cabin even when we are sitting out back.  Too hot.

BRIDGE OVER ALTON MARINA