Port #24: No Whine Before It's Time...

Great Loop II Date: 9/17/2014

Day #48 (Wednesday): 20 miles (1352 total miles)

Locks: 0 (8 total locks)

Port #24: Grafton, IL

OB’s run from Hardin to Grafton was short and uneventful.  Grafton is just above the confluence of the Mighty Mississippi.  Much of the water passing Grafton Harbor is from the Mississippi as it developed little islands out of the peninsula of land that used to protect Grafton.  Although the Illinois River is far from being clear, going from the Illinois River into the Mighty Mississippi is a definite change.  Mark Twain wrote: “The Mississippi is too thick to drink and too thin to plow.”  So true!

Todd noticed Gertrude and Heathcliff talking on a floating tree.

Their friends were gathered nearby.

Another nice tree racing us to the Mississippi.

Pere Marquette State Park just north of Grafton.

More duck blinds in the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.

New construction...much like the neighboring duck blind.

Big beautiful houses on the hills above Grafton.  After the mighty flood of 1993, a city ordinance was passed that no new housing could be built in the flat area of Grafton next to the river.

On our last Loop, we stayed at Alton Marina about 20 miles south of Grafton.  Since we were trying to add new destinations to our adventure, we decided to stay at Grafton Harbor.  The marina was full of Loopers waiting for the ‘Okay to proceed’ from Fern at Hoppies 58 miles away in Kimmswick, MO.  Hoppies is the last stop for 250 miles before entering the Land Between the Lakes at either Green Turtle Bay in Grand River, KY or Kentucky Dam Marina near Gilbertsville, KY.  Fern can only take 6 to 8 boats at a time on her barges.  The flooding Mississippi held Loopers in Grafton and Alton for over 2 weeks.  Some were beginning to think they were residents!  As soon as we docked at Grafton we called for our reservations at Hoppies.  Our wait would be 7 days, allowing us to use Grafton Harbor’s ‘stay 4 nights, get 3 free’ deal.

Grafton Harbor calls itself the 'Key West of the Midwest'.

Grafton is a cute little town with 7 ‘wineries’ and many little shops and restaurants.  The wineries did in fact sell wine however none of the wine was actually made anywhere near there.  Going from winery to winery kept us busy for a few days.  We also took the courtesy van with 3 other couples to Fast Eddies where beer and food remain at prices found in the 1960s.

We went to a winery atop one of the highest points in Grafton our first evening there.  This picture is looking north at the Illinois River we had just finished navigating.

This picture is looking west to south at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Illinois Rivers.

Todd was brave and stood at the edge of the patio overlooking Grafton from the Aries Winery.

Friday Ken and Terry on Roundabout had rented a car for the weekend.  They took us exploring along the highway from Grafton to Alton, IL.  These beautiful limestone outcroppings line the highway almost all the way to Alton.

They are very pretty from the Mississippi River, too.

During our 2010 Loop, we were so amazed by this sight, we got outside of the buoy markers in the river...which could have had disastrous results.

We decided to take lots of pictures from land this time!

Just past the outcroppings was the monstrous caves and the painting of the Piasa.

This is a rendition of the Piasa that was found here earlier in history.

These huge caves were created by the waters of the Mississippi River.

We also toured the Mel Price Lock and Dam Visitors Center.  This is one of the two massive doors on the auxiliary lock.  Those are logs floating in front of the door.

Looking down into the auxiliary lock.  Recreational water craft, pleasure boats and smaller barge and tows use this lock.

Just inside the doors was a massive pile of debris...logs, trees and other prop bending wood.

There were two of these huge water controlling dams between the auxiliary lock and the main lock.  They raise and lower these dams to help control the flow and the water level above the dam.

This is the main chamber used for the bigger barges and tows.  Smaller units are passed through the auxiliary lock.

Sunday Paul and Stephanie on Infinite Sea organized a trip to Pere Marquette State Park.  They have a beautiful lodge and serve the best breakfast buffet in the area.  This statue is of Mother Nature.  I stopped and had a visit with her about the weather and waters we've been exposed to.

Todd waiting patiently in front of the lodge.

A statue of Fr. Pere Marquette.

A statue with lollipop feathers for its war bonnet.

People sized chess set in the main lodge.

The group of Loopers transported to Pere Marquette lodge thanks to Paul and Stephanie.

Sunday afternoon Sue and Tom from Andante, King and Sharon from Blue Moon, Todd and I decided to check out a few of the wineries.  We'd already been to Aries on Wednesday, so we picked two near the winery and ended up at the Loading Dock, a converted storage warehouse and dock.

Trying to schedule a ride back to the marina...it didn't work!

While we were at the Loading Dock, an old friend showed up and docked near by...the Spirit of Peoria.

Another beautiful sunset with the Spirit of Peoria at the Loading Dock.

Tuesday a group of us took the courtesy van to Fast Eddie's in Alton, IL.  Check out those prices!

The food was GREAT and the beverages COLD.  Fast Eddie's is one of our favorites on this trip.

Although it was fun being with so many Loopers and keeping busy going different places with them, there was no Internet or cell service.  We could not catch up or keep up with family or friends.  We were anxious to get down the road and back to being connected.

Port #23: Dinner at Mel's (and Breakfast Too!)

Great Loop II Date: 9/16/2014

Day #47 (Tuesday): 99 miles (1332 total miles)

Locks: 0 (8 total locks) wickets down in 1 lock

Port #23: Hardin, IL

OB and crew were in for a very long day on the water.  The distance from Havana to Hardin, IL would be nearly 100 miles.  We had talked about anchoring in order to make our travel day a little shorter.  There were a large number of Loopers southbound.  Those of us in contact with each other were trying to make plans as well as alternate plans so no one would be left without a place to stay on the river.  Roundabout and Andante were about 20 miles ahead of us.  We knew their plan was to go to Mel’s River Restaurant and stay on the barge.  The Loopers in Havana were planning to anchor up river from Mel’s for a shorter day on the water.

The day dawned beautiful with clear skies and cool, crisp temperatures.  It was so nice to see the sun for a change.  We were seeing sights from our first Loop with more regularity.  We still had to dodge large debris fields in the water.

Sunrise with the light reflecting on steam rising from the power plant in Havana, IL.

Such a pretty morning on the Illinois River.

Many little cottages like this on the river bank.

We passed this same convenience store in 2010.

Loading dock for a flour plant.

When we came to the LaGrange Lock and Dam, it was so flooded the gates were not visible at all.  The approach wall was totally submerged and only the pilings where the barges tie up were visible.  Once again we were able to motor over the wicket dam saving us a great deal of time.

The flooded LaGrange Lock.

The wicket dam would be on the far left in this picture however it is down.

More debris showing up in the lower part of the Illinois River.

An oncoming barge and tow.

I love the names of the tows...try saying Pat Pickett really fast!  The tows are named after real people.  I saw a tow named after Brent Ice on the Ohio River.  Todd worked with Brent at Marathon before he went to work for a tow company.

We saw this old derlict riverboat in the same spot on our trip in 2010.

Starting to see more limestone bluffs.

We arrived at Mel’s Riverdock in good time and tied up behind Roundabout and Andante.  There was plenty of time for a nice walk with Charlie.  Todd and I, the crews from Andante and Roundabout had a wonderful dinner at Mel’s Restaurant.  Mel is known for his smoked brisket, ribs and chicken.  We stayed here and ate at Mel’s in 2010 so we knew we were in for a treat and we were not disappointed.  Mel stopped by the table to visit, as he often does.

OB with Andante and Roundabout (hidden by the trees) at Mel's Riverdock.

The night was quiet at the dock with a few tows passing.  The next morning Andante received a call from Sweetwater.  The three boats that had anchored had a frightening experience during the night with all the debris coming through their anchorage and not only disrupting their sleep but actually causing their boats to become unanchored.  All aboard the three boats were safe but tired and hungry.  They came to the riverdock, rafted off our boats and went to breakfast with us.

BREAKFAST!!  Three couples well rested...three couples dog tired.

Port #22: We Love Horseshoes...

Great Loop II Date: 9/15/2014

Day #46 (Monday): 42 miles (1233 total miles)

Locks: 0 (8 total locks) wickets down in 1 lock

Port #22: Havana, IL

Morning ritual completed, OB was off the dock and on her way to the Peoria Lock with Roundabout and Andante close behind.  Having looked ahead, we all knew the Peoria Lock was flooded and the wickets were down.  That allowed us to travel midstream down the river past the Peoria Lock without stopping.

As we were passing over the wicket dam, looking at the flooded lock.

The open area on the far right is where the wickets are located.

A wicket dam is a metal dam or a series of metal plates attached individually to a system creating a dam.  During flooding, it can be lowered to the bottom of the river to allow the rushing river water to move by the lock preventing damage from debris and erosion to the lock from the water.  It is both advantageous for us as well as a little frightening with the rapid water.  However, our passage was easy and controlled.

The day started and continued cloudy with periods of rain.  The Asian Carp jumped frequently hitting the back of our boat.  They sounded like logs hitting the bottom.  I was up and looking quite a few times making sure there wasn’t a dead head bobbing behind us in the water.  Dead heads are logs that float vertically and are usually just below the surface of the water making them impossible to see or avoid.

The clouds are pretty in pictures, but it got pretty monotonous seeing every day like this with no sun.

Flooding along the Illinois River

Unloading coal from a barge for the coal fired power plant below

We went under a lot of lift bridges too...mostly railroad.  This bridge operator seemed to have a nice little house to stay in while on duty.

We arrived at Havana, IL in good time and tied up the Nature Center dock, another free dock.  Havana restaurants are known for their famous Horseshoe open faced sandwich.  We made way to Babe’s for a late lunch.

OB at her free dock...the Nature Center in Havana, IL.

The famous Horseshoe...from bottom to top: 2 Texas Toast, 2 hamburgers, fries, cheese sauce, bacon, tomatoes, green onions and probably some stuff I left out.

When we came back to the dock, we were met by Loopers we’ve been in the last ports with.  We mentioned having docktails at Babe’s and set a time for later in the evening..  It was ‘Wing’ night.  The wings were delicious shared with lots of conversation and laughter.