Log 14
Day 84
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
6:30 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 62* with 71% humidity...going up to about 79 today.
Woke up real early this morning (4:45 am) and decided to get up and get going. Only problem was I had trouble “getting going” because I am so sore from waxing the boat I could barely get up and down the stairs. I’m on my 6th ibuprofen...and starting to get around a little better.
Weather...It’s been fairly cool in the evenings here for about a week. Certainly not normal for August in Ottawa, but very nice. I have been turning on the heat in the helm area each morning to get the chill off before the sun comes up (only takes a little heat to make it comfortable). The daytime temperatures have been between 78 and 85...very nice. Only spotty showers...no real rainy days (where it rains for 1/2 the day or more) since we stopped in Ottawa.
Latest routine (everyone always asks what we do each day)...I have mentioned a couple of times that we are not into a routine yet. Well, although we are really not cruising yet, we are into a slight routine. It starts with me getting up between 5 and 6..but I have slept until 7 before. First thing is to turn on the computer and get the coffee going, then I take the computer and head to the helm area where I spend the next 1 to 3 hours. The helm area is completely enclosed and climate controlled so I never worry about the outside weather (but the isinglass can be removed and make it feel like you are in an express boat). Sitting in this area I can watch the sun come up; get a feel for that day’s weather; and watch the marina wake up each day. I normally check about 4 or 5 weather sites on the computer to really understand today’s weather and what the next few days will be like. I also monitor (and track on a spread sheet) 8 different areas on the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers so I can understand the “normal” river stages and how we will be affected by them as head down these rivers. (The good news is the Mississippi continues to come down and hopefully will be at normal summer pool by the time we get there in a couple of weeks). By the time I get all this done Deb is starting to make noises (she gets up shortly after 7) and is making her breakfast. Deb enjoys the next hour or so reading her book while I start to make my daily “to do” list. Most days include a daily wiping down of the boat (or complete washing depending how many bugs are on it) and a project or two I have to do. Lately I have been doing a lot of waxing because I’d like to get it done before we leave. Deb spends her time with laundry; cleaning the inside of the boat; and lately getting stocked up with supplies because we will not have access to easy shopping once we head down river. What we have not done as much of is daily boating on the Whaler or dinghy (at least not during the week). I thought we’d do more of that...but there always seems to be other things that seem more important. Guess we don’t have our priorities correct yet. The day ususally ends up with cocktail hour starting about 4 or 5 and almost all dinners are on the boat. (We never go out to eat unless it is some special occasion). Most days I’m in bed by 8:30 or 9 and Deb comes to bed to read...sometimes for a few hours. Then we get to do it all over again. So far this schedule has kept us busy...and never bored.
When we leave...weather permitting (at this point it looks fine) we are leaving the Ottawa area next Wednesday, August 20th. I plan to stop at a marina a few miles down river and have the boat pulled out of the water to power wash the bottom and make sure it’s perfectly clean. It’s been sitting (without moving) for a couple of months so I am sure we have collected lots of alge on the props and bottom. A dirty bottom is very tough on a boat, because it causes lots of drag and not only reduces fuel mileage, but puts unneeded stress on the engine as well. It’s very expensive to pull our boat ($10 a foot)...but worth the cost to be sure the bottom is clean and slick as we go through the water.
Our plan from here...is to take a week to 10 days to get to Kentucky Lake (near Grand Rivers, KY). This is probably the worst part of the trip for us. While we love river boating, the marinas going south from here are few and far between, and most are pretty primitive. The 218 miles on the Mississippi are just bad. The river can be very dangerous (at high water) and there is only one place to stop along the way. We’ve made the trip several times...and I never enjoy it.
Next log...will probably be the day we leave this harbor. Then I will probably be doing daily updates as we are cruising. I have been working on putting together our schedule for the next year or so...I’ll include it when I do the next log.
Today...heading out shortly to have breakfast with my brother in law, Les Walleck. Then will come back to the marina because I am having a fuel truck come to the marina and get us fueled up before we leave. Going fishing this afternoon with Les and his grandson Trager, then tonight our daughter and grandaughter come for the night. Busy schedule...I better get going.
I hope everyone is well.
BK.
Day 84
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
6:30 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 62* with 71% humidity...going up to about 79 today.
Woke up real early this morning (4:45 am) and decided to get up and get going. Only problem was I had trouble “getting going” because I am so sore from waxing the boat I could barely get up and down the stairs. I’m on my 6th ibuprofen...and starting to get around a little better.
Weather...It’s been fairly cool in the evenings here for about a week. Certainly not normal for August in Ottawa, but very nice. I have been turning on the heat in the helm area each morning to get the chill off before the sun comes up (only takes a little heat to make it comfortable). The daytime temperatures have been between 78 and 85...very nice. Only spotty showers...no real rainy days (where it rains for 1/2 the day or more) since we stopped in Ottawa.
Latest routine (everyone always asks what we do each day)...I have mentioned a couple of times that we are not into a routine yet. Well, although we are really not cruising yet, we are into a slight routine. It starts with me getting up between 5 and 6..but I have slept until 7 before. First thing is to turn on the computer and get the coffee going, then I take the computer and head to the helm area where I spend the next 1 to 3 hours. The helm area is completely enclosed and climate controlled so I never worry about the outside weather (but the isinglass can be removed and make it feel like you are in an express boat). Sitting in this area I can watch the sun come up; get a feel for that day’s weather; and watch the marina wake up each day. I normally check about 4 or 5 weather sites on the computer to really understand today’s weather and what the next few days will be like. I also monitor (and track on a spread sheet) 8 different areas on the Illinois, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers so I can understand the “normal” river stages and how we will be affected by them as head down these rivers. (The good news is the Mississippi continues to come down and hopefully will be at normal summer pool by the time we get there in a couple of weeks). By the time I get all this done Deb is starting to make noises (she gets up shortly after 7) and is making her breakfast. Deb enjoys the next hour or so reading her book while I start to make my daily “to do” list. Most days include a daily wiping down of the boat (or complete washing depending how many bugs are on it) and a project or two I have to do. Lately I have been doing a lot of waxing because I’d like to get it done before we leave. Deb spends her time with laundry; cleaning the inside of the boat; and lately getting stocked up with supplies because we will not have access to easy shopping once we head down river. What we have not done as much of is daily boating on the Whaler or dinghy (at least not during the week). I thought we’d do more of that...but there always seems to be other things that seem more important. Guess we don’t have our priorities correct yet. The day ususally ends up with cocktail hour starting about 4 or 5 and almost all dinners are on the boat. (We never go out to eat unless it is some special occasion). Most days I’m in bed by 8:30 or 9 and Deb comes to bed to read...sometimes for a few hours. Then we get to do it all over again. So far this schedule has kept us busy...and never bored.
When we leave...weather permitting (at this point it looks fine) we are leaving the Ottawa area next Wednesday, August 20th. I plan to stop at a marina a few miles down river and have the boat pulled out of the water to power wash the bottom and make sure it’s perfectly clean. It’s been sitting (without moving) for a couple of months so I am sure we have collected lots of alge on the props and bottom. A dirty bottom is very tough on a boat, because it causes lots of drag and not only reduces fuel mileage, but puts unneeded stress on the engine as well. It’s very expensive to pull our boat ($10 a foot)...but worth the cost to be sure the bottom is clean and slick as we go through the water.
Our plan from here...is to take a week to 10 days to get to Kentucky Lake (near Grand Rivers, KY). This is probably the worst part of the trip for us. While we love river boating, the marinas going south from here are few and far between, and most are pretty primitive. The 218 miles on the Mississippi are just bad. The river can be very dangerous (at high water) and there is only one place to stop along the way. We’ve made the trip several times...and I never enjoy it.
Next log...will probably be the day we leave this harbor. Then I will probably be doing daily updates as we are cruising. I have been working on putting together our schedule for the next year or so...I’ll include it when I do the next log.
Today...heading out shortly to have breakfast with my brother in law, Les Walleck. Then will come back to the marina because I am having a fuel truck come to the marina and get us fueled up before we leave. Going fishing this afternoon with Les and his grandson Trager, then tonight our daughter and grandaughter come for the night. Busy schedule...I better get going.
I hope everyone is well.
BK.
Here's a picture of our harbor...notice Headquarters on the far right side.
Here is a picture of the family on the last day of our houseboat trip...good to see we are all still smiling.
Below is an artists picture of the harbor we are in at Ottawa, IL.
