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.