Log 18
Day 94
Saturday, August 23, 2008

Houseboat on the Illinois River

Typical view on the rural Illinois River
A few homes like this are on the river in Southern IL.
This was our marina (???) for the night.


5:00 AM CDT
Location: Beardstown, IL.
Weather: 73* with 68% humidity

Didn’t get the best night’s sleep last night...if you see the picture of where we spent the night, you’ll know why. Tossed and turned and then got up at about 4:30 to get the day started. Actually a beautiful morning out. 73*, Clear skies, and no wind. There was a very heavy dew though, because when I got up there was so much water on the boat I thought it had rained.

Yesterday we left IVY Club in Peoria, IL at about 7:30 and tip toed our way out of the harbor because the river was so low. The weather called for 50% chance of showers, but nothing ever came. From the IVY Club it’s about 9 miles to the Peoria lock. I called them to ask for a lockage at 8:45; they let us in at 8:55; we were dropped 8.5 feet and left the lock at 9:05. The trip down to Beardstown we uneventful, and a little boring at times. Most of the way we traveled at 9 mph, but once kicked it up to 23 mph for 15 minutes to “blow out the carbs” in the engine (something recomended by the Volvo engineer I talked to this week). There are 3 pictures of what is typical on the river. A houseboat that was parked and then the river came down before he could move it. A shot from my window that is what most of the rural river looks like. And a house on stilts...not all that common...but several along the way. We had planned to stop at the 120 mile marker in Havana, IL...but the water was so low that I was concerned about getting into the marina so we came up with plan B which was to go on to Beardstown at mile marker 89. The only problem was that the only place to tie up to was an old work barge at a tug service (Logsdon Tug Service). If you see the picture you’ll know it was not much of a stop. In fact...when we got there they had 2 fires burning in 50 gallon drums on the barge and black smoke was billowing everywhere. Deb had to run and close the windows on the boat so the smoke would not go inside (As a favor to me the tug captain put the fire out later). To top it off they had no electricity (we had to run the generator all night) and they charged us $45 to tie up (same price as we paid the last 2 nights in great marina’s). While the barge and surrounding area looked like a bomb had went off and blew a bunch of stuff on this barge, it turned out to be an ok evening. Deb and I had time to fire up the internet and get caught up. We had a cocktail while we watched a little Andy Griffith on the TV. And we enjoyed dinner (leftovers) on the boat. We were both in bed by 8:45.

Today our plan is to leave at first light...actually in a few minutes, I need to get this done so we can leave. We plan to go through 1 lock in about 8 miles and then another 80 miles to Grafton, IL...where the Illinois meets the Mississippi River. I’ll let you know tomorrow if we made it.

BK.

Log 17; Day 93; August 22, 2008; IVY Club, Peoria IL.

Log 17
Day 93
Thursday, August 22, 2008

5:25 AM CDT
Location: IVY Club, Peoria, IL.
Weather: 72* with 80% humidity...86* and humid, 50% chance of rain predicted today.

First, a few pictures...

Here is the sand bar near our marina where we spent a lot of our time.

This is the IVY Club where we spent last night.

Here is a shot of our guests sitting on the back of the boat. This table is where I go every morning and work on the computer...and we eat all our meals.

This is picture of us pulling HQ to wash the bottom

Another view

Here is a shot of folks catching Asian carp on the Illinois River...the boat is FULL...and they are throwing them in the pickup truck. The picture does not do this justice...an unbelievable job.

Up at 5 this morning. Outside it is very damp from all the rain we got yesterday and last night. But, it’s nice and very still. The crickets are very loud. Coffee is made...all weather web sites checked, and the weather channel is on...national and world headlines checked...all helm instruments are on and working.

Yesterday...was a sign of many days to come. Slow cruising at 9 mph for 4 to 5 hours and then heading to a marina for the evening. We left the dock about 7:30. The plan was to leave at 8, but I could see the rain coming on my radar (I have XM weather on my GPS...which is the same weather feed that the weather channel gets...real cool) so I asked Deb (yes...asked) if she was ready to shove off a little early...and she said sure. So we untied the lines, and as soon as we did it started to rain...and pretty much rained all the way to the IVY Club. However, even with the rain it was a great ride...and a great day. We traveled 51 miles and tied up about 2 pm. After all the hook ups (electric; water) we got the internet connection and satellite TV and checked the emails and got “connected”, we went up to the bar to register (personally speaking...I think all marinas should have a bar where you register). Anyway...you can’t register without at least having a beer...which we did. Then back to the boat for inside (Deb) and outside (Bob) cleaning. At the bar a guy asked me if that was our “new” boat. I said that it was 3 years old to which he said “no one should work that hard to keep a boat that clean”. When he saw us cleaning a little while later he said “be careful...you’ll wash the gel coat off that thing”. I love it! After the cleaning...and drying...the rain began. And it stormed, and rained off and on most of the night. At about 6 pm Terry and Jeanie (Deb’s sister and brother in law) came to the boat and we went across the street to a pub called the Firehouse Grill (owned by the local fire chief) for some great sandwiches. After that...back to the boat for some desert and a glass of wine. I was in bed by 9.

One highlight from yesterday was that we passed two boats that were fishing for Asian Carp (see the picture above). I won’t go into too much detail on these fish (Google Asian Carp, or go to Utube and see some of the amazing details) but I can say they are large (up to 30 pounds or larger) and very aggressive. They get excited by the sound of boat engines and begin jumping out of the water all over the place. They will actually jump in the boat...and have hurt several people when they have done that. Some folks try to get them to jump and actually hunt them with bow and arrow. Crazy. Anyway...the picture is of these guys who had their boat totally filled (we’re talking 2 to 3 foot high) and were unloading them. Not sure what they do with them after that. Sell them for cat food???

Today’s plan...is to go 48 miles to mile marker 120 and Havana, IL. There is a marina there called Tall Timbers, and we have a reservation. Only issue could be that the water is very low, and not sure if we can get in. We’ll see.

It’s starting to get light now. Sunrise today is 6:15 am...it’s now 6:10 and I can see the Illinois River. Very low clouds and a light fog is out there. Looks like it will be a little dreary cruising today. No matter...I can’t wait to untie the lines.

BK.

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.

Log 15; Day 91; August 20, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

Log 15
Day 91
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

5:50 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 67* with 72% humidity...going up to about 86 today.

After 78 days we are leaving Heritage Harbor (Ottawa, IL) today. It is certainly a little bitter sweet. The harbor is great...and they have been soooo good to Deb and me. In addition,...we have spent a lot of time with friends and family and had such a great summer. But the fact is we are ready to keep cruising and looking forward to traveling down the rivers and getting to Kentucky Lake.

The last week...has been very busy and lots of fun as well. Last weekend the harbor hosted a large weekend party (billed as Jimmy Buffet weekend...but he was not here) with bands; food; and lots of boats from other harbors. Our dock became a large group of folks sitting together and (much to my dismay) lots of people going in and out of our boat looking for tours. Thank God for Debbie’s patience because I would not have been near as cordial when people just walked up and said, “Can I see your boat?” They were nice about it...but it was very weird. In between, all of this Beccah and Samantha (daughter and granddaughter) also visited and we had a great time. I also had a chance to go fishing with a friend here and had a blast catching lots of bass (he says we caught 21...but I don’t think it was that many. But it was a bunch. There was also lots of work to prepare to leave. Deb made several trips to the store because getting groceries for a couple of weeks will be difficult to impossible. The trip to the liquor store was quite an event (I think they will be adding a wing on the store). And then there was all the work to get the Whaler and truck ready to store and take them to Peoria and put them in a warehouse (that was weird wondering when we would be coming back to get them). But all of that is behind us now and we are ready to cast off the lines and continue our journey.

Today...it looks to be another nice day...and we have had about 2 to 3 weeks of no rain and sunny weather. Just beautiful. I did not sleep well last night because I was really looking forward to getting up and preparing for cruising today (like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning). The plan is to leave the dock about 8:30 and go 9 miles down river to Starved Rock Marina and pull the boat to power wash the bottom...we want it clean and “slick” as we head down stream. I assume that will take a couple of hours so I am planning on the boat floating again by 1 PM. From there it is only a couple of miles to the next lock (Starved Rock Lock) where we will drop down about 20 feet to the Peoria pool (the name of the body of water between the Starved Rock Lock and the Peoria Lock). Our plan for tonight is to stop at Spring Valley Boat Club (Mile 219 in Spring Valley, IL.) where we have a friend who will meet us for dinner and we will spend the evening at their fuel dock. The plan is also for Les and Annie, and Darrell and Donna to drive over for dinner. Easy day of cruising.

Then what...the next few days we’ll be in a different harbor each night, and plan to be in Grafton, IL (where the Illinois River joins the Mississippi River) by Sunday evening...240.3 miles from where we are sitting this morning.

The sun is just now coming over the trees at the harbor so that is my cue to end this log and get started preparing for today’s adventure. I’ll keep you posted.


BK.