Log 26; Day 102; August 31, 2008; Cuba Towhead, Paducah, KY

Setting the anchor in the channel at Cuba Towhead

Looking out from our anchorage to the Tennessee River we can see the Delta Queen going by
Log 26
Day 102
Sunday, August 31, 2008

2:20 AM CDT
Location: Anchored at Cuba towhead just off the Tennessee River near Paducah, KY.

To see our exact location on Google maps (click here)
Weather: 72* with 60% humidity; no wind...predicted to be 91 and sunny today

I really like to get up early...but this is crazy. I got up a few minutes before 2 this morning to check things out...and stayed up. As the location above says, we are anchored near Paducah, KY in the backside of an island just off the TN River. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of anchoring all night in our boat. I don’t mind it on someone else’s boat, or a boat we have chartered, but let’s just say, with our boat...in an unknown area... I would rather be tied to a dock for the night. Because we are anchored in a strange place is why I got up so early. This back channel we are in is fairly deep and easy to navigate, and I was not certain that this might not be used by local tug boats as they moved around...because they are everywhere. So I wanted to get up (actually I did not want to go to sleep, but Deb and I agreed that with enough wine we would go to sleep) and make sure we were not in anyone’s way. It would not be good to get run over in the middle of a channel (in the middle of the night) by a barge. I’m not sure if one came by now what I would do...but at least I would be awake to try to do something.

That said...it is a beautiful morning (or is it still night at 2:45 am?) I went out on the bow when I got up and the crickets; frogs; and whatever else is in these woods are very much awake, and very loud. I can not imagine having to sleep without a generator and the windows open last night. I just checked the weather radar and it looks like the closest rain to us is in Florida associated with hurricane Gustav...so we are in great shape weather wise as well. Bottom line...no wind...no rain or bad weather...no tugs going through our channel...no issues what so ever. I should be in bed! But the weather channel is on, and the coffee is very good, and I’m boating so I may be up for the day (but I bet I take a nap later).

Yesterday we left Little River Diversion Channel at 6:45. Once we pulled up the stern and bow anchors, it was only a few yards back to the Mississippi. As soon as we pulled out into the river I wondered if I had made a mistake. It was light out and not bad in the channel, but on the river the fog was pretty thick in places. We were not a 1/2 mile down river and I could see a wall of fog ahead of us. I could also see the sun coming up, and very bright, so I was hoping it would burn the fog off...and in a hurry. There was also a barge coming up right behind us, and he only had one barge, so he was moving fast. With my electronics I could see the name of the tow on the screen so I called him and said I was going to slow down and pull over so he could come around us. My plan was to follow him for a while in case this patchy fog continued. It took only 30 minutes or so for the fog to burn off...and we had no issues after that.
By 9:45 we were in Cairo, IL...the end of the Mississippi (for us) and the junction of the Ohio River (actually the Ohio River ends here...918 miles from where it begins...but we will be going upstream) Speaking of going upstream. We were getting anywhere from a 2 to 5 mph push on the Mississippi...now we were fighting a couple mile an hour current. So with the same rpm (1100) we went from 11 to 12 mph to 7 to 8...a big change in speed and fuel consumption.
In order to get to our anchorage at Cuba Towhead we had to go another 48 miles and two locks. The first lock (lock #53) was 18 miles away, and no issue at all. I called them and by the time we got there the lock was open and we went right in. The next lock (lock #52) was another 24 miles and had traffic backed up everywhere. They really had a mess on there hands...I’ll bet there were more than 10 barges on both sides of the locks. We ended up anchoring for a while and it took a little over an hour, but we were lucky enough to get in the lock with another tow and we got out of the lock about 4 pm.
Once out of the lock we only had about 5 miles to our anchorage. I found it with no problem and took a fair amount of time exploring the channel to decide where to anchor. Like I said above I was nervous that this channel would be used by commercial traffic, and I did not want to be in there way. Not barges...but tows running back and forth getting barges. After studying things and trying to get the anchor set (the anchor first drug a little so I let out 150 feet of chain and that did it) we finally shut the engines off at about 6 pm. Not much else to report except that when Deb went to cook dinner the generator shut down. It was a little scary (because I did not want to sleep with no A/C in this heat and humidity)...but after a fair amount of work and investigation I think the problem was we were just running too much stuff and when she turned on the stove (two burners at once) the generator said “enough...I’m shutting down”. So I shut everything down; started over; reduced the load; and it has been running fine since then.

Today...an easy 12 mile run a little further up the Ohio River to the Cumberland River (this is where the Cumberland River ends) and then 31 miles and 1 lock to Green Turtle Bay...at MM 32 on the Cumberland. This is our home for the next 16 days or so. We had plans to go up the Cumberland to Nashville, but a lock along the way is down until September 10th and we have folks coming to see us on the 11 at Green Turtle so we will just stay there and explore the area.

Well it’s now 3:30. I’ll look for a couple of pictures to go with this log...upload it...and then I think I’ll get my pillow and blanket and try to sleep here on the back of the boat. The only sign of barges are the ones going by out in the Tennessee...about 1/2 mile away. So I can rest easy.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.

Log 25; Day 101; August 30, 2008; Little River Channel

A picture of our anchorage at Little River Diversion the evening we arrived

The same anchorage when we left
A picture of our chart plotter showing what it is like the last few miles before the Mississippi joins the Ohio River

Log 25
Day 101
Saturday, August 30, 2008

6:05 AM CDT
Location: Anchored at Little River Diversion Channel just south of Cape Girardeau, MO.

To see where we are (click here)
Weather: 69* with 80% humidity; no wind...predicted to be 88 and sunny today

Not much time to do a log this morning. After tossing and turning most of the night (I do that when we are at anchor) I went back to sleep about 3 and slept until 5:30. We want to leave just after sunrise (which should be 6:30 to 6:45)...so not much time to sit and write this log.

I’m sitting on the back of the boat and it is just starting to get light out. We are at anchor in a little stream just off the Mississippi south of Cape Girardeau, MO. If I look out the back of the boat the Mississippi is about 100 yards away. (As I write these words a fishing boat, with what looked like a Grandpa and his grandson, just flew by heading out to the Mississippi). It is a beautiful setting...and a beautiful morning.

Yesterday we left Hoppies at 7 am and went the 110 miles to Little River and arrived at 5 pm. The entire day we went between 900 and 1100 rpm at a speed of 10.5 to 13 mph. I would say the river was giving a push between 3 and 5 mph all day. No issues...and not much stuff floating to worry about...the only real challenge was the very crazy water eddies that we crossed from time to time. The water was swirling and bubbling and it looked very scary. These eddies have the power to toss boats around and throw them sideways in their swirling water. I have talked to more than one captain who’s boat has been thrown sideways and nearly out of control. I discovered a couple of thing about these eddies. First is that they seem to be caused by fast water flowing over shallow and then very deep areas. We would be going along in 10 to 15 feet of water and when we went over the eddies the depth would go to 40 to 60 feet and then back to 10 to 15 again in just a matter of a few yards. I have no idea if this is what causes them...but in every case this was happening. Secondly I found out that if I set the auto pilot to it’s most sensitive setting it would do a better job of keeping the boat straight in these eddies than I could be steering it myself. So I went through these eddies with the auto pilot on and we were tossed around much less.

Today we have about 95 miles (and 2 locks) to go to our next anchorage near Paducah, KY. It looks like a beautiful day for cruising...so I better get to it.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.

Log 24; Day 100; August 29, 2008; Kimmswick, IL.

Log 24
Day 100
Friday, August 29, 2008

5:45 AM CDT
Location: Kimmswick, MO.
Weather: 70* with 76% humidity; no wind...predicted to be 88 today with a 30% chance of rain.

A barge came by last night at 2:13 and almost knocked Deb and I out of the bed. Well maybe not knocked us out...but woke us up very quickly. Another one came by at 4:12 and did the same thing. I went back to sleep after that...but did not sleep very well. Finally got up at about 5:30 and will have to make this log short because we will be leaving at first light. Just as I write this there are two barges passing out in the Mississippi so I’m sure the boat will be rockin’ in a couple of minutes. Also I won’t be sending any pictures today, because the Verizon signal is not strong enough, or fast enough to get that done in a reasonable amount of time.


Yesterday we ended up going 40 miles from Alton, IL to Hoppies Marina in Kimmswick MO. Hoppies is a very unique spot. It has been run by Hoppie and Fern for who knows how many years (lots...they are probably 75 or 80 years) and they run it their way. It is nothing more than a couple of barges tied together just off the Mississippi River channel (which is why you get rocked by barges going by) at MM158.5 but everyone stops here because it is the only place to tie up between Alton and Green Turtle Bay...a distance of 240 miles. The only other option is to anchor...and we will be doing that the next two nights. It is about 1 mile to Kimmswick...a very small town know for it’s antiques and one great restaurant called the Blue Owl. I walked up the hill at the marina to a couple of elderly gentleman sitting on chairs just looking out at the river (assuming they were locals and knew everything) and asked them how far it was to town...and was there a place where Deb and I could go in and have a beer. It took them about 10 minutes to tell me this, but the quick summary is...the town is only 4 blocks square; it only has one restaurant (Blue Owl); but hell...they only open from 10 to 3; used to be 4 taverns and a pool hall...all closed; town says they have 150 people...but if you took a census I’ll bet there is less than 100. When I asked why things were getting smaller and changing they said “folks died...and some moved away...and the town is too dam political”. So there you have it...the story of Kimmswick, MO. Does anyone wonder why we are only staying one night?

Today we plan to go 110 miles to a little river/creek just down river from Cape Girardeau, MO. It is called the Little Diversion channel to folks running the river and it’s one of the only places to safely stop for the night between here and the mouth of the Tennessee River...over 200 miles from here. So I need to top off the water tanks (so well have water for the next two nights) and head out. It’s 6:15 now and starting to get light. Looks like a good day for cruising.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.

Log 23; Day 99; August 28, 2008; Alton, IL.

Log 23
Day 99
Thursday, August 28, 2008

5:20 AM CDT
Location: Alton, IL.
Weather: 72* with 70% humidity; no wind...predicted to be 91 and sunny today with a 50% chance of rain tonight.

Up at 4:45 this morning in order to be prepared to leave early...plus I just love this time of morning sitting on the back of the boat. One of the first things I did was call lock #27 to see how things were going and if they could lock us through. I reached a very nice lady who said to come on down...it might be slow going, but we would get through. Which is what I hoped for because they have been working on that lock and only using the small chamber (these locks have 2 chambers, one big one and one small one...different from most locks on the great loop). So that is good news for us.

Yesterday we had a lazy day. Deb went to the botanical garden with her cousin Karen and I worked on a few boat projects. After doing outside cleaning, I did some caulking on a hardtop leak we are dealing with. Not a big deal...just a drip, that is a pain, and I have been trying to locate the source of the problem. I also went in the engine room and checked all fluid levels and gave everything a good inspection. (I don’t check the fluids as often as some say you should (which is daily) because this does not make sense to me. Who checks their car fluids each day, or before each use? If the temperatures are all normal; the engines are running fine and no smoke; and there are no fluids under the engines then my theory is that the fluid levels should be fine, and a daily check is not necessary). After that it was about 11 and I decided to take a walk into Alton and find a cheeseburger. I talked to a local and he pointed me to a “billiards bar” that was about a 20 minute walk. It turns out they had a $1 cheeseburger special (1/2# that was good) so I had that and walked back to the boat. Deb got back to the boat about 3 from her trip with Karen and we decided to head over to Fast Eddies. This is a local tradition and quite a place. It’s like going back in time because the place has not changed in years...lots of years. In fact, the food prices are the same as they were when they first started serving food over 15 years ago. $1 cheeseburgers; 29 cent shrimp; 99 cent French fries. We had chicken on a stick (7 chicken wings) for $2.29 and beef tenderloin on a stick (6 big pieces with green peppers) for $2.29. We were stuffed and spent less than $8 on food. The beers were $2.75 a piece...so even that was not bad. All in all a great stop...and we walked back to the boat (a 30 minute walk) to help digest the dinner.

Today the plan is to leave the slip about 7 and go a little over a mile to the first lock (Mel Price). Then we head right through St. Louis and right next to the arch. The next lock is about 14 miles south (lock #27...the one they are working on). Our destination is Hoppie’s Marine Service at mile marker 158.5 near Kimmswick, MO. This is a very unique stop, which I’ll describe in more detail tomorrow...assuming we can get internet service because we are going to be in the middle of no where for a few days now.

Well it’s starting to get light out now, and the sun will soon be coming up, so I need to end this log and get the boat ready to leave the dock and go into the lock. While I have been writing this I have been monitoring the lock traffic on the VHF radio and I think we will be able to go right in as traffic seems very light. Let’s hope so.

I’ll keep you posted.

BK.

A local hero in Alton...this is a lifesize statue of him...over 9 feet tall.

The outside of Fast Eddies...the place was originally owned by Budweiser and called Bon Air
The highlight inside is the kitchen...right out in the open of the bar.

Log 22; Day 98; August 27, 2008; Alton, IL.

Log 22
Day 98
Wednesday, August 27, 2008

6:40 AM CDT
Location: Alton, IL.
Weather: 67* with 67% humidity; no wind...predicted to be 87 and sunny today

Beautiful morning. If you click here it will take you to google maps and our exact location in Alton, IL. We are sitting almost directly under what is marked Clark Bridge on the map. The picture below is a shot of that bridge last night. I never knew I would be interested in a bridge...but this one is huge and very pretty (can a bridge be pretty?). And it happens to be right out the back of our boat so I am staring at it right now. Also in the google maps you will see the lock about 1 mile to our south. That’s the first thing we need to do...tomorrow.

Yesterday was a very easy cruising day. After a very nice early morning breakfast (I have eaten rasin bran and sliced peaches for the last 2 days so I’m feeling pretty good about myself) I wiped down the boat and got it looking great. After Deb enjoyed breakfast...a chapter in her book...and a few emails, she vacuumed the inside of the boat and made sure everything was ready for cruising (all drawers closed and locked and things put away so would not fall). All of this and we untied the lines at 9:15. I have been at this spot on the river (where the Illinois meets the Mississippi) a few times but each time it is very special. It is very wide here (see picture and size of hills in relation to the truck) and you know you have just traveled the entire Illinois River system and are about to join one of the largest rivers in the US. As wide, and as deep, and as well marked as it is at this point I always am more cautious for a while for some reason. It feels new and strange and I keep thinking I’m going to hit something. The good news is this feeling goes away in a few miles...and we had no trouble at all.

After a short 17 mile trip we pulled into Alton Marina at 11:30. I decided to get fuel (100 gallons) and we were in our slip about noon. There have been rumors about low water here...but I never showed anything less than 6 feet...and we have 8 feet at the dock we’re at. They planned on putting us under a covered slip (lots of them in the South) but I asked if they had cable TV at the dock and they said no...so I asked them to put us on a T dock (at the end of a normal dock is called the T) so we could use our satellite TV on the boat (won’t work under a cover because it can’t find the satellite). After lunch on the boat Deb and I took a walk and checked out the marina. Great place with almost new covered docks and very clean. Everything is floating...including a nice pool and the main office...which has a deli and store in it. At 4:00 Deb’s cousin and husband (Karen and Dale) came to the boat for a short visit. They live about 20 minutes from Alton...and it was nice to see them. After they left we had a nice salad for dinner (seems like I’m eating healthy...but not really) and watched Closer on TV. It was a great day...nothing special...but great none the less.

Today Deb is going with her cousin Karen to the botanical gardens somewhere in this area. She’ll be leaving in a few minutes and plans to be back later this afternoon. I plan to work on my boat list this morning and then this afternoon we plan to head into Alton to check out the sights. Actually we plan on heading to a place called Fast Eddies...a bar and grill that is somewhat of a legend in this area. Everyone who we tell we are stopping in Alton says we MUST see Fast Eddies. I’ll give a report tomorrow if it is worth the hipe. Sun is up over the bridge now and looking great. Promises to be a great day...guess I better get doing something constructive.

BK.

BK; Karen; Dale; and Deb

The Clark Bridge just behind our boat
Hills on the side of the Mississippi River just south of Grafton, IL.
Our Lady of the River Statue along the river.

Log 21; Day 97; August 26, 2008; Grafton, IL.

Log 21
Day 97
Tuesday, August 26, 2008

6:20 AM CDT
Location: Grafton, IL.
Weather: 67* with 65% humidity; NE winds at 9...predicted to be 84 and sunny today

Lunch at the bar next to the flea market.

The floating pool at Grafton Harbor...nice stop
Sunset last night. Red sky at night...sailors delight.
It is predicted to be sunny today...but lots of clouds right now. I went out side a few minutes ago and it was a little chilly, but felt great. I’ve been watching the weather channel this morning and hurricane Fay is really dumping the rain on Tennessee and Alabama. Good news for us because these water levels were really low and this should help us as we go down the Tombigbee Waterway later this fall. The water levels on the Illinois and Mississippi seem to be stable the last couple of days which is also good for us. The locals at Grafton say they never remember the water being this low, and it is causing several of the tows to have a problem because they are running aground. I have called the next two marinas we are going to and I don’t think low water will be an issue for us.

Yesterday was just one of those lazy days when you’re cruising. In the morning Deb worked on keeping up with our banking and paying the bills. I cleaned all the isinglass and worked on a couple of small projects. I also spent time planning our itinerary for the next month or so, and made some reservations at marinas. At lunch Deb and I walked back to the area where they had the flea market the day before. The good news was (for me) the flea market was not there (must only be there on weekends) but the bar and grill right there on the water was. So we split a cheeseburger and had a beer for lunch (you can see in the picture the smiles on our faces...must be enjoying it). After lunch I went back to the boat to keep working on our cruising plans and also get the marina to pump out the holding tank, and Deb went into town to get some fresh sweet corn...which we had with BLT’s for dinner.

Since we have been in this marina 3 or 4 “loopers” have come in...so folks are starting to head south. Except for one couple (Peaceful Day) in a beautiful 40’ Tiara who are heading north. He found out we were heading south, so he come over to our boat to ask me a few questions about the trip north. I spent about 30 minutes with him explaining about the different things to watch out for and the things not to miss. Really nice guy, but I was surprised that he planned to go all the way to the Trent Severn in Canada yet this summer/fall and then back down through New York and to Florida. He has a fairly fast boat (cruises at 28 mph) but the rule of thumb (as told by seasoned loopers) is to be heading south by early September and many say leave Chicago after Labor Day. He will just get to Chicago by Labor Day...and heading north. I would think it will be pretty cold in Canada and the Northern parts of the East coast before he gets out of there. Heading South sounds better to me at this point.

Today is planned to be an easy cruise. We plan to leave the dock between 9 or 10 and head 15 miles south to the Alton Marina. The only question I am dealing with is where to get fuel. I believe in supporting the marina’s we stay in, but the fuel costs can be very different. Grafton Harbor is $4.37; Alton Marina is $4.30; and Hoppies is $4.76. I think I’ll just get some at Alton...and then top off at Hoppies before heading further south.

BK.

Log 20; Day 96; August 25, 2008; Grafton, IL.

Log 20
Day 96
Monday, August 25, 2008

6:40 AM CDT
Location: Grafton, IL.
Weather: 62* with 83% humidity with light NNE winds...82* and 20% chance of rain predicted today.

Here is a shot from the back or our boat this morning in Grafton Harbor...just before the sun came over the hills. That's the Mississippi River in the distance.

I know I mentioned this before but the view off the back of our boat is really cool. I’m looking due East...I can’t see the sun yet...but there is this beautiful “glow” of the sun behind the hills (I’ve included a picture I just took, but it does not do it justice). It’s a little cool out, so I turned on the heater in the helm area and it’s a perfect 72* inside. The morning is awesome, and the coffee’s tasting great. I’m only going to give a short update this morning because I am going to include “Deb’s 2 cents”. People have asked for Deb to chime in on these updates...so she is going to do so.

Navigation note: I’ve mentioned I keep track of river heights “called stages” along the waterways we travel because it can really effect where we stop. Well I have been tracking this (every day) since June 24th when the Mississippi had all that rain and terrible flooding. Anyway...the river stage in St. Louis during that time was 38.57 at it highest point (flood level is 30.00 and the highest ever recorded was in 93 when it got to 49.58) today that same river stage is 4.15...and predicted to drop even more. On August 2nd the river stage was 30.66...it has dropped over 26 feet in a little over 3 weeks. Amazing.

Yesterday was a lazy day on HQ. It was not a travel day so we were in no hurry to get going. Deb made pancakes and bacon (one of my favorite breakfasts) and after breakfast we cleaned up the boat because we did not do that on Saturday. About 11 we walked into Grafton...a short walk...and looked at all the local establishments. Grafton is a small river town and has definitely decided to cater to the boaters and people who enjoy the river. Small craft shops, and restaurants all along the water. I even went with Deb to a flea market just down the street. I didn’t last long...maybe Deb will go back today. They do have an outside bar that sits right in front of the flea market...and right on the river...so maybe I’ll walk with her. After lunch we bought fresh catfish (which Deb cooked for dinner) and came back to the boat. I watched the NASCAR race I had recorded the night before, and Deb went to the marina pool. During our catfish dinner we watched the movie “Shooter”...and I made it all the way to 9:30 before going to bed (must have been the nap during the NASCAR race).

Today we really have no plans. I keep a list of items I want to do to the boat...so maybe I’ll work on that. Also maybe walk back into town and check more things out. Heartland Boating Magazine had an article on Grafton in it’s latest issue and Deb and I read it last night...so she has some ideas of places to go (although I really think we saw everything yesterday)

Tomorrow we plan to travel a short 15 miles to Alton, IL and spend 2 nights there.

So much for my update...here is “Deb’s 2 cents”...

Here is how Deb spend some of here time while we are cruising along...sitting out front reading here book.

Saturday, 8/23/08
Hey All!
It’s Saturday night, 10:15 pm and BK’s in bed. There are several kinds of music blaring from different boats in the covered dock that we are tied to and cocktails are being passed around. While Bob has always enjoyed the early morning quiet of the marina to update the web page and plan his day, I like the evening marina noises and sitting up top to people watch…which is what I’m doing right now! I thought this would be a good time to take a few minutes to add my 2 cents to BK’s daily logs. (I love laptops!)
We are finally on our way south again after spending a wonderful summer in Ottawa. It’s hard to believe that we pulled into Heritage Harbor on June 2nd and it’s already the middle of August! When we came to Heritage Harbor it looked a lot like a construction zone…dump trucks, cement trucks, gravel trucks, landscapers, people building docks, planting trees, seeding hillsides. Now, after only 2 ½ months, there’s a new pavilion, a sand volleyball area, beautiful landscaping and even grass! They’re putting in the infrastructure for the housing area and I they’re going to start the hotel & conference center this fall. Things are moving along quickly! Everyone there was so helpful to us and we can’t wait to see what the Harbor looks like in a couple years when we get back!
The weather started out a little funny in June...lots of wind (I hate the wind!) and a few weird storms, but then it settled into a hot and sunny couple of months...perfect for water fun! There were lots of people around with boats (sisters, brother, niece, friends), so there was always something happening on the river! Beccah, Jeff & the kids made the hour and a half drive quite a few times to play on the river with Grandma & Grandpa K. Both grandkids are 11 years old now and true water rats...we love it! We packed a lot in during our stay…boating, fishing, swimming & hanging with family & friends…(not to mention, Bianchi’s pizza, Polancic’s tenderloins, and Tones Cones!) We had our truck and our 21' Boston Whaler with us while we were in Ottawa and so had wheels on land for groceries & laundry, and a fun small boat to use while we were there.
We also squeezed in a family vacation in July, renting a houseboat on Kentucky Lake for a week with the kids and grandkids. The weather was hot enough to keep us all in the water pretty much all the time and we got the kids on a double tube that was a blast! They bounced off, rolled off, and slid off so many times I thought they'd get discouraged, but they always came up coughing and sputtering, with huge smiles on their faces and grabbing for the tube... "Let's go again!" And it was very cool to realize that after a week, when we got back to Headquarters, we both felt glad to be 'home'. After living aboard since May, it finally feels like home! All in all, it was wonderful to have this bonus time with everyone...a GREAT summer!
But after 78 days of fun in the sun and on the water, it was time to move on and on Wednesday, May 20th, we pulled out of Heritage Harbor to resume our cruising life. Passing under the railroad bridge at the west end of Ottawa for the last time (at least for a few years anyway) was with mixed feelings...excited to once again be on our way, but realizing that we would be away from everyone for so long. We've been 'living' in Ottawa for over 2 months and have gotten kinda dug in.
The night before we left, we had 'one last evening' together in Ottawa with family (Bianchi’s pizza!) and then at our first stop on our way down the Illinois, my sister (Annie) & bro-in-law (Les) plus a couple of friends came for another 'last evening' together. Then, at our 2nd stop (in Peoria), my sister Jeanie & Terry met us on HQ and we walked across the street to a pub for one more 'last evening' together! (It's hard to let go!)

But on Friday morning Bob and I headed south again on the Illinois, knowing that it will just be the 2 of us for awhile. This is what we’ve been looking forward to…just cruising and checking out new places together. Tonight we’re in Grafton, IL. We have heard that Grafton is a great place to visit and so will stay a few days to check it out. (We’ve already spied a restaurant that serves Cajun food called “The Rotten Apple” that has definite possibilities!) We’re tied to a T-dock and it’s a little rocky-roley but promises to calm down tonight. But even with the little bit of rocking, this slip is way better than last night…tied to a work barge with 2 oil drums on deck burning something that was making black smoke. (I saw paint cans on fire on the barge at the base of the oil drums…not IN the drums! Yipes!) They put it out right away, so I think the lung damage was held to a minimum. Oddly enough, the overnight charge is the same for both places!
After getting the boat secure and checking in with the dock master, we put away our Illinois River charts and will get out the Mississippi River charts for awhile. But that’s not for a couple of days. Tomorrow (after the boat is washed and wiped down of course) we’ll take a walk into town to explore…maybe split a cheeseburger for lunch. That’s as far as we got in our plans for the future!

Keep reading the blog…we’ve got a new system for the pictures so you’ll see more from now on. Enjoy the rest of the summer…cold weather will be here soon enough. Well – for some of us anyway! Key West – here we come! -Debbie

Log 19; Day 95; August 24, 2008; Grafton, IL.

Log 19
Day 95
Sunday, August 24, 2008

6:15 AM CDT
Location: Grafton, IL.
Weather: 73* with 61% humidity with light SE winds...87* and humid, 20% chance of rain predicted today.

Very overcast this morning here in Grafton, IL...but not much rain anywhere around. I’m sitting in the helm area looking at a beautiful view of where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi River (see picture). A picture does not do it justice and it reminds me of the White Cliffs of Dover in England. Beautiful white hills. Most people would not believe this is really Illinois.

Yesterday we untied the lines a little earlier than normal (6:25). The sun was not up yet...but it was light enough to travel and see the buoys. One issue was there was a very heavy dew and it was hard seeing through the windows and isinglass, so I ended up opening the isinglass in front of me and just let the water drip in the boat in order to see properly. I also used the wipers to help...but that was a pain. In about an hour or so the sun was up enough...and hot enough...to burn off the due. We still had to wipe the isinglass every few minutes, but in a hour or two it was fine.

About 9 miles from Beardstown was the LaGrange lock. I called the lock at 7:20; we entered the lock at 7:31; floated in the middle without lines; dropped 8 feet; and left the lock at 7:40. When we left the lock we could here a barge (Bob Smith) calling for any South bound traffic because he was coming North bound up the narrow channel and wanted to be sure no one was around. I called him on the radio and said I was leaving the lock and he told me to pass him “on the two whistle side”. (Note: When you are traveling on the rivers or narrow waterways boat captains keep track of all traffic near them...by announcing their position on a very regular basis...and then communicate with one another to decide how to safely pass. Many times they push their barges into the bank and try to move over and wait while another barge passes them because it is so narrow. They agree to pass on “the one whistle or two whistle side”. One whistle is my port (left as I face forward) and two whistles is the starboard side.) You can see the picture of the barge and how close we are. Many times we are only a few feet apart...and it really makes it safer and easier if you communicate with the barges...which I do.

From Beardstown to Grafton is 89 miles. Most of the time you feel like you are out in the middle of nowhere...which you are. Occasionally you pass a small town...but there were no docks or services of any kind until we got to Grafton. There was also no boat traffic...except for a few fisherman around each town. When we got a few miles from Grafton things changed considerably. Lots of boat traffic...many people anchored on each side of the channel and swimming, and a couple of sand bar areas with 40 or 50 boats around them. A beautiful (and hot) day and the boats were taking advantage of it. A nice cruise all the way at about 9 mph and we arrived about 4 pm. I was too hot and tired to clean the boat...so we got all the air conditioners turned on and relaxed for a while and then I cooked steaks on the boat grill. Great day.

Today...after washing the boat we plan to do a little exploring of Grafton. It looks like we can walk to the town, but who knows, we may get the folding bikes out. At this point we plan to stay here until Tuesday and then only go 18 miles to Alton, IL on the Mississippi and spend a couple of days there checking out the town.

BK.

From Beardstown to Grafton we saw lots of houses on stilts. Look at the windows and you can see how high the water was this sping. Almost all of the houses we saw had water lines similar to this one.

Here is the barge heading toward us as we leave the LaGrange lock
Here is the same barge...as we pass on "the two whistle side"
You can see how close we get in the narrow waterway
This the view out the back of our boat as we sit in Grafton Harbor (where the IL. River and the Mississippi Rivers come together.

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.

Log 14; Day 84; August 13, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

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.

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.

Log 13; Day 69; July 29, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

Log 13
Day 69
Tuesday, July 29, 2008

6:30 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 72* with 71% humidity...going up to about 90 today.

Beautiful morning here in Ottawa. Warm temperatures; no wind; and a clear blue sky. Sun has been up for a few minutes and it is a bright red/orange that makes you believe it’s going to be one of those hot steamy summer days.

It’s been quite a while since my last update (20 days) so I thought I’d get caught up a little.

As of today, we are planning to leave Ottawa in 22 days (August 20th to be exact). We have already been here 57 days...hard to imagine. When we planned to stop for an extended period, I had in my mind all the projects I would be doing on the boat. While I have washed and cleaned almost every day, I have not done the big projects I thought I would. I have done a fair amount of waxing, and plan to get the entire boat waxed (again) before we leave.

Two “Loopers” (people who are traveling in their boats as we are) arrived in the marina yesterday. One couple is from Daytona, FL. and the other from Fairhope, AL. This is fairly early for those traveling south...as the migration through Ottawa normally begins after Labor Day, through mid October. Neither boat had ever been on the Illinois River and were not aware of what the next few hundred miles were like, so I spent time with both of them letting them know what lies ahead and their cruising options. It got me excited about getting back on the water and cruising every day. Just before I started to write this log one of the boats (SiComoNo...the one from Fairport, AL) left it’s slip on their way south. I wish Deb and I were leaving with them.

Our time with the Grandkids and our houseboat vacation was just perfect. It’s really fun to spend time with them, and they could not be more appreciative of our time together. Being able to be closer to them while we were in Ottawa was very special...and we’ll miss that. The kid’s idea of our next vacation together is to spend it at our home in Chillicothe so they can play in the water all day (Illinois River) and drive Grandpa’s toys he tells them he will be buying. We’ll see.

I’m sure our remaining days in Ottawa will go fast. We have a few things to do...people we want to go visit... and people will be coming to visit us. We also need to get the boat ready for about a 2-week trip where we won’t have access to a grocery store as the trip between here and Kentucky Lake is very rural. It is actually one of the prettiest parts of the trip, and the most difficult from a boating perspective. Almost no good marinas and we will have to anchor a few nights on the rivers...not our favorite thing to do.

Well it’s time to get started with this beautiful day by wiping down the boat. Isn’t boat retirement just great!

BK.

Log 12; Day 49; July 09, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

5:30 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 68* with a beautiful sunrise coming up...predicted to be 83 and sunny with no rain today

Woke up about 4:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep, so I decided to get up and get the day started. I’m on my second cup of coffee and have checked all world headlines on the web...nice to see the market “try” to make a little comeback. Sun is just peaking over the trees here on the river...predicted to be a great weather day...great day to be alive.

Weather...has been almost perfect since my last update. Most days have been in the 80’s and very little rain. What rain has come has happened during the night or early morning. The 4th of July weekend weather was just perfect. The mornings a little cool and the days warm and sunny. I have also been tracking the river stages along the southern Illinois River and Mississippi to see when it will be ok for travel. The lower 24 miles of the Illinois River has been closed to recreational boats due to flooding for several days. The good news is the Mississippi has crested in all areas and has dropped over 7 feet at Grafton (where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi), but still 5 feet over flood stage. I’m sure it will be fine by the time we get there.

Daily routine...is starting to come together. Although there is no “normal” day, most days consist of me washing the boat in some fashion (or at least wiping down certain areas) and Debbie cleaning the inside or doing laundry. I also am continuing to work on my “to do” list for the boat which is never ending. Nothing really major, but a lot of preventive maintainance work and general upkeep items that will get away from you if you don’t keep up with them. But each day leaves us plenty of time for enjoying the marina life and also for Deb to spend time with her family in Ottawa. For me this is a way of life I have dreamed about, and planned for, so I could not be any happier.

Our future plans...are starting to take some shape. Although we are trying hard not to have schedule that is any way restricting I have roughed out some travel itineraries that make some sense. At this point we plan to leave Ottawa the week of August 18th, and take our time as we head down the Illinois; Mississippi; Ohio and eventually get to the Cumberland River near Grand Rivers, KY. From there we plan to spend a couple of weeks exploring the Cumberland River up to Nashville, TN. Next we want to spend a few weeks exploring the Tennessee River all the way up to Chattanooga (and maybe beyond), which is about 600 miles from where it starts in Paducah, KY. We have some friends who will join us for a few days along the way...but most of the time it will be just Deb and I on the boat. The only real reservations we have at this point are to be at Joe Wheeler State Park on the Tennessee River in late October...to be in the Ft. Myers, FL area in late December so we can fly home for Christmas...and be in Key West by January 15 to spend a month there. Quite a difference from my minute-to-minute schedule I had at work...and I love it.

Not much more to report at this time. Getting ready for our granddaughter Samantha to visit the boat this weekend, and then next weekend leaving for a weeklong houseboat vacation in Kentucky Lake with our daughters family. So a fair amount to do to get the Whaler ready because we will be trailering it down there to pull behind the houseboat.

While I have been jotting down these notes I have been doing several other things, so by now it’s almost 8am and time to get busy with boat chores. It’s going to be a great day.

I wish everyone could be as happy as we are.


BK.

Log 11; Day 37; June 27, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

Log 11 Day 37

Friday, June 27, 2008

1:00 PM CDT

Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.

Weather: 82* hot and muggy...storms predicted

Here are a few words from Debbie...

Hey all you Landlubbers! Debbie here...just putting in my 2 cents. It’s raining right now and Bob has spent the morning watching the weather channel (with the sound down), tracking the storm cells on his computer, checking Looper blogs, and listening to channel 128 on Sirius (the NASCAR station)...……I’ve been reading. About 15 minutes ago, he decided since it was raining, it would be a good time to drive to Seneca to pick up some bilge cleaner and other misc. boating stuff and then maybe swing by to pick up the boat trailer that he had dropped off last week for repairs................I think I’ll read.

In Bob’s latest log (doesn’t he do a great job on those?) he covered a lot of events in his short note. We are indeed happy in retirement. There certainly is a lot of cleaning and organizing to do and there have been a few repairs that Bob is great about taking care of right away. But there's always cleaning and organizing at a house too...for some reason, on a boat is WAY more fun! And it's been great to spend this time in Ottawa (my home town) and visit with my family and our friends without having to watch the clock anticipating the long drive home. The Whaler has been a great bonus to our time here and Bob really did go fishing! He got a license and everything! And taking Zack out was a lot of fun for both of them. Watching them putt-putt out of the harbor I could just imagine the conversations they must be having. “Grandpa…do you think we’ll catch any fish?” “Well Zack…the thing about fishing is…” (Just like Barney Fife!)

Here are Bob and Zac heading off fishing

We had a great time at our nephew’s wedding…those guys sure know how to throw a party! It was good to get to the house in Chillicothe and make sure everything was in order (the roof didn't leak and the plumbing didn't burst). And as BK said, we were able to do a little work around the house. Oh yeah...about that outside yard work Bob mentioned...here's how it actually went.

When we got to the house, we found a lot of wasps inside and determined that they were coming in around the window air conditioner in the dining room. Bob decided to remove the unit, found an annoyingly large bush at the window, decided it needed to be cut back and “while I’m at it” he also figured he’d pull out some other annoying bushes (to make it easier to mow around), trim some shrubs, hit all the borders with the weed whacker and then spray the heck out of anything green that may have escaped the whacking (to make it easier to mow). He walked down to bro-in-law Terry’s house to borrow some clippers, spotted a Kubota tractor with a scoop, his eyes lit up and he asked Terry, "So how long are you going to have that tractor?”
Bottom line: He borrowed the tractor and pulled out those bushes, hauled out a bunch of limestone rocks and dumped them at the back of the house, then leveled out the place where the stones were. With the help of 2 bros-in-law, Terry & Les, (and with the tractor) he pulled down an old redbud tree and hauled it to the beach for burning later. This took multiple trips and the only path to the beach for the tractor was the road. So picture this…two guys stopping holding traffic back and one guy on a tractor dragging a tree down the middle of the road! Ah-h…life in a small town! Well – the lawn will definitely be easier to mow now!

Bob thinks he needs one of these!

Only in a small town can you get away with this.

Okay – the skies are clearing…I’d better get going. There might be a Whaler ride in my future and I need to get my gear ready.............I think I’ll bring my book.
I’ll chime in again soon. Hope all’s well with you and yours!-----

DK

Log 10; Day 36; June 26, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

Zac fishing with me and a friend (John Mobely) on a small lake on the Illinois River Another fishing shot...
Log 10
Day 36
Thursday, June 26, 2008

12:00 PM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 87* hot and sunny...storms predicted for this evening

I hope this note finds everyone as happy as we are. Hard to believe it’s been 36 days since we got on the boat. On one hand it seems much longer...and another seems like yesterday (does that make any sense to anyone but me?)

What we’ve been doing...Fishing with grandson Zac was great. We didn’t catch many fish (only 3) but enjoyed our time together. After he left last week (on Thursday), we packed up and headed to our home in Chillicothe, IL. Debbie’s sister’s son (Andy Ruhland) got married and we wanted to be there for that. We also took the time to do a lot of work around the house. Mostly outside yard work so the neighbors didn’t turn us in to the authorities. We came back to the boat on Tuesday (June 24) and have been doing chores since then. There is always something to clean or fix. It’s not as if we do this 8 hours a day, but it does seem to be a constant effort...but we are not complaining, we love it. I also finally went to the doctor (local medical clinic) to have them look at my thumb. Before we got on the boat I had a cut on my thumb that somehow got infected, and it has not healed yet...so the doctor said I need a dose of penicillin. It’s been a couple of days now...and it seems to be getting better.

The boat...everything is working perfectly (although I have not started it since we got to Ottawa 25 days ago). As I said, I clean everyday to keep up with things and it has never looked better. I even waxed a couple of places to stay ahead of that chore. The Whaler is working great as well, and is a joy to jump in and head out on the river. It is parked right behind Headquarters, so it could not be better.

The cruising life...we have absolutely no complaints, and are actually kind of “giddy” about our life at this point. Not sure, we are in any type of routine yet, and maybe will not be for some time. I have a long list of things I am doing to the boat while we’re here and enjoy doing each of them (someone asked me...is this a written list?...absolutely...updated daily). I miss moving the boat often...but that will come soon enough. The thing we have not really done yet is get into a relaxing mode. I thought we’d read more and lay around more. Has not happened yet.

The weather...it’s been pretty good. You learn very quickly that when you live on a boat weather is much more important. In a home it can be a distraction...on a boat it can be a big issue. Many storms (the ones that have caused such a mess with the Mississippi River), but they have seemed to go around us most of the time. Last night we had another one about 3:30 am. I got up and got on the computer to check the radar, and it was a nasty storm but went south of us. We only got a little wind and some rain. As I write this there is a line of storms coming across Iowa, heading our way. Could be an interesting evening.

What’s coming up...tonight we are going out to dinner with the owner of Heritage Harbor (the marina we are staying in) and another couple from the Ottawa area we know well. I’m looking forward to hearing the stories of what the plans are for this place. The potential is unbelievable...but the timing (economy) is tough. Next week I’m going to see my Mom (about 1 hour from here) and start to get the Whaler ready for our trip to Kentucky Lake where we will meet our daughter and her family for a week on a houseboat. We’ll trailer the Whaler down and pull it behind the houseboat so we can have it to run around in. Some folks would say we were crazy. We live on a boat and when we take a vacation, we go and rent a houseboat. Boating...we have it bad.

When are we leaving here...I don’t want to leave too early because the southern heat can be tough, and also we have to monitor the Mississippi River to see when that gets back to normal. Most places (along the Mississippi) have crested now or in the next few days. 1993 was the worst flood in history in that area and most of the area did not get water that high...but within 6 to 8 feet of a record. I just hope they don’t get too much more rain for a while.

I'll keep you posted.

BK.

Log 9; Day 26; June 16, 2008; Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL

Above is our boat (in Ottawa) just before sunset.

Log 9
Day 26
Monday, June 16, 2008

8:15 AM CDT
Location: Heritage Harbor, Ottawa, IL.
Weather: 68* heading for mid 70’s with no chance of rain

It’s been a week since my last update so I thought I’d do a little catch up.

Our last week has been fairly quite with our time spent working on boat projects and enjoying our time in Ottawa. It is interesting to me how fast the time goes during the week...there is always something to do and I am not bored at all (yet!) But I will say I am really looking forward to heading down river and all the navigation and planning that takes.

The weather has been very “ify” almost every day the past week or so (actually since we got to Ottawa). Every day there is a chance of storms...and many times very severe storms. The good news is that in most cases these storms have gone north or south of us. Yesterday we woke (6:30 am) in the morning to very strong winds and heavy rain that lasted about 30 minutes or so. NOAA weather said there were reported winds of 60 mph and pea sized hail in the storms, but we did not see anything that extreme. The weather for the next few days is forecasted to be a little cooler (75 to 80) and very slight chance of rain.

Today we are planning the arrival of our 11 year old grandson, Zac. He will stay with us for a couple of days and he and I plan to spend a fair amount of time fishing. Not sure if we will do any “catching”...but we’ll give it a try.

Right now I’m heading out to wipe down HQ and our Whaler and make sure everything looks good...important stuff when you live on a boat. Probably the most “important” thing I’ll do today. Been doing this for years now...and somehow I never get tired of the process. If I’m on the water...all is good.

Summer officially begins on Friday!

BK.