9/25/2010 BEARDSTOWN TUG TO GRAFTON, IL

Image via Wikipedia ILLINOIS RIVER

SATURDAY

MILES TRAVELED TODAY:   82 NM

We got an early start this morning, casting off before 7:00. True to form, we had to wait at the La Grange Lock but were happy to find the lock staff helpful and concise with their directions. Thanks to all you hard working lock attendants. We all appreciate your assistance.

By about 11:00 we had entered that part of the Illinois River that contains those sub-surface wing dams. These structures span only part of the river and are used to control the depth of the river by deflecting its main channel. We had to travel hyper alert, with eyes on the charts and the depth finder. No Pictures because you can’t see these buggers.

September Song put the “pedal to the metal” and set a speedy course for Grafton where they need to make repairs before moving on. They bade us good-bye and we promised to look for them when we finally found our way into the marina.

Dan is going to miss Debbie’s piloting when she leaves us tomorrow. Curt and Kelli Henning are arriving in St Louis tonight and will rent a car to join us. Debbie will then drive it back to the airport and fly home. Sure looks good on paper, doesn’t it? Debbie did purchase one of US Airways “flexible” tickets, just in case it doesn’t all work like clockwork.

MIGRATING GEESE

In Kampsville, we watched the Kampsville Free Ferry tote the nearly isolated folks to the rest of the world. Calhoun County is almost completely surrounded by water and relies heavily on the four ferries to keep them connected.

DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS BUT WE ALL

LOVED THIS OLD DERELICT

KAMPSVILLE FREE FERRY

It is a cool sunny day and we are enjoying the lush green banks and calm waters of the day. Most of the homes near the shore were built on stilts, kind of reminds me of some of the Kauai homes.

 AZURE SKY WITH MARSHMALLOW FLUFF CLOUDS

HOUSES BUILT UP ON STILTS

This is a stilt house right where the Otter Creek drains into the Illinois River. Just a little taste of home. For those of you that don’t know, we have a Otter Creek in Vermont and one of our companies is Otter Creek Builders.

CONFLUENCE OF ILLINOIS RIVER AND

THE OTTER CREEK TO THE RIGHT

We made it to Grafton, IL, pulled into the marina, fuelled up, pumped out and found our way to the assigned dock. We spent the evening huddled safely in our cozy Quest while the rain sifted down around us. Debbie was in heaven when she finally got the Boise State - Oregon football game on her computer. Of course, Boise State came out victorious.

Image by Hawk Eyes via Flickr