Log 16; Day 92; August 20, 2008; Spring Valley, IL.

Log 16
Day 92
Thursday, August 21, 2008

5:25 AM CDT
Location: Spring Valley Boat Club, Spring Valley, IL.
Weather: 69* with 60% humidity...rain and 79* predicted today.

Sitting in the helm area this morning I had to get a lamp from inside the boat because it’s still dark outside and I couldn’t see the keys on the computer. A fairly nice morning with light winds from the SE...but my radar shows rain coming from the south should be here before we plan to shove off at about 8 this morning. Nothing really heavy...just enough to be a pain. But this area certainly needs the rain...so I am not complaining. I’m sure the rain won’t change our plans for the day.

Yesterday...we had a great first day back cruising. Things could not have gone any better. After finishing my log yesterday I washed the boat and got everything read to head out. Deb got up early and went through the inside of the boat to be sure all was ready for cruising again (since we had been sitting so many day we were not worried about anything falling...but once we were heading out everything had to be secured again). We left the dock at 8:37 and made the 10 mile run to Starved Rock Marina and were in the lift by 9:50 (note here...we have a picture of the boat being lifted, and other pictures I should put in here, but Deb and I do not have a system yet. She takes plenty of pictures, but I don’t get them from her and because I write this log early (while she is still sleeping) I don’t have the pictures on my computer to be able to attach them. We’ll have to work on this issue). Anyway...as I was saying, we made it to the travel lift by 9:50...they raised the boat and washed the bottom. Based on how much algae was on the bottom I probably did not have to clean it...but at least I now know it’s in good shape until Florida. The bottom wash only took an hour and we were back in the water by 10:50 and in the Starved Rock Lock (a 17 foot drop) by 11:20...and out by 11:40. After getting out of the lock Deb made some sandwiches and we slowly cruised (1000 rpm...8.8 mph) the remaining 13 miles to Spring Valley and arrived at 1:15. Once at the boat club one of our friends who is a member stopped by and we went up and had a quick beer before coming back to the boat and cleaned it up a little. I also wanted to clean the front isinglass because I knew it was going to rain today and I wanted it to have polish on it, so it would be easier to see through (the polish on the isinglass acts like Rain-x). About 4 pm Les and Annie showed up, so we sat on the back of the boat and had a cocktail while we waited for Gary and Trish Dominy (the boat club members) to come to the boat and join us for dinner. When they arrived we drove to a very small town (Mark, IL) to a great Italian restaurant for dinner. We were back to the boat and I was in bed by 9. As I said...great day.

Today’s plan...Deb and I talked about leaving around 8 this morning. We are heading to Peoria, IL, to a place called the IVY Club...a marina at the 168 mile marker...51 miles from where we are right now. We are planning on getting together with Jeannie and Terry (Deb’s sister and brother in law who live in Chillicothe, IL next to the home we have there) for dinner and then leaving in the morning for Havana, IL.

Well the sun is officially up...but I can’t see it because the clouds are too heavy. The radar shows the rain is getting closer and my best guess is it will be raining just about the time we are leaving. I need to go up to the boat club and pay for last night’s slip. I thought it was a little strange that the boat club would be open at 6 am...but they tell me a few of the locals gather for coffee early each day. Who knows...maybe I’ll learn a few things before we leave.

BK.