ILLINOIS RIVER

We have been on the ILLINOIS RIVER the last seven days. The Great American Loop is an entirely new adventure on the river system...different navigation charts, lots and lots of tugs pushing barges, the water level is extremely low, there seems to be daily lock issues with closures or backups, and we have enjoyed (Not?) a mini heat wave!!! (Actually, we are thrilled (and chilled) with our new air conditioner :)

Everything is great...it just takes some time to acclimate to life on the river, The Fall chapter of our Great American Loop adventure! As we celebrate the Fall equinox:)

The first leg of the ILLINOIS RIVER trip was from Joliet to Ottawa. That was a 56 mile day with two locks. The first was Dresden Lock (24 feet down) with a two and a half hour wait. The second was Marseilles Lock (24 feet down) with about a three hour wait. After dark, on a long tiring day we arrived at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa. We docked for three nights at Heritage. We originally planned one or two nights, but the La Grange Lock is closed due to shallow water downstream. The Army Corps of Engineers issued a "Closure" and we were advised to remain at our current location. (We have been hearing about La Grange Lock issues for months ?)

The river and locks are primarily for commercial business. The paying tugs pushing barges have priority over all pleasure craft (us and other Loopers). So, we typically have long frustrating waits prior to being locked through.

The second leg of the ILLINOIS RIVER trip was from Ottawa to Peoria. This was a 75 mile day with  one lock. The Starved Rock Lock was about a three and a half hour wait. We departed at sunrise and docked at The Illinois Valley Yacht Club at sunset for one night. The Yacht Club was very nice. After check-in we enjoyed dinner and the company of other Loopers.

We departed at sunrise for the third leg of the trip on the ILLINOIS RIVER, and traveled 80 miles from Peoria to Beardstown. We had one lock today. The Peoria Lock, with a three hour wait. It could have been longer, but the Lock Master allowed six Loopers to sneak in-between some barges :) We tried to dock at the Havana City Dock on the way, but it was way too shallow. (Captain Greg took it slow and we bottomed out at four feet... no damage on the silt mud bottom of the river.) With seven other Loopers we docked at dusk for one night at Logsdon Tug Service. Probably the most unique stop thus far on the ILLINOIS RIVER. They have barges along the river that boats side tie on... no power or water, but safe and secure! We had dinner at a Mexican restaurant in Beardstown, it was great (Gracias).

Leaving the next morning at sunrise, all seven Loopers headed to the infamous La Grange Lock. We easily locked through together! Past the lock we observed the Army Corp of Engineers dredging the shallow area of the river. We are now at the most Western point of the Great American Loop! That night we docked in Hardin. It was a 70 mile day...docking at the Riverdock Restaurant. We arrived first, but by nightfall there were five other Loopers on the dock. We all enjoyed Docktails and dinner together. For dinner we ordered Catfish and home smoked Brisket (yum).

Our last day on the ILLINOIS RIVER was a short 20 mile trip from Hardin to Grafton. Grafton has a large Marina, located near the confluence of the ILLINOIS and Mississippi Rivers. Grafton is a party town ... we stayed one night and are ready to move on to the Mississippi River tomorrow morning!

The ILLINOIS Waterway.

The ILLINOIS RIVER Map. 

Our new Navigation Charts.

Navigation on the ILLINOIS RIVER (notice our port / red and starboard / green markers).

The first lock on the ILLINOIS RIVER.

Swimming cows and a pretty bird with almost a Fall colors.

Locking through at sunset.

Heritage Harbor had a courtesy vehicle and Jeremy gave the Loopers a serious briefing. 

Loopers at the daily 4pm briefing.

Heritage Harbor sunset.

The tugs pushing barges on the ILLINOIS RIVER (three wide and five deep). 

River sights. 

Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY). 

Sunset and a diesel fill at IVY. 

The City of Peoria.

The Peoria Lock.

Loopers in the Peoria Lock ... we side tied to Abby's (golden doodle) Boat :) 

Sunset on the ILLINOIS RIVER.

Hardin had a carnival. 

The La Grange Lock at sunrise.

The Army Corp of Engineers dredging.

More dredging!

ILLINOIS RIVER.

Thistle at the Riverdock Restaurant Dock.

Morning push off, we side tied to Loofah.

Grafton Harbor.

Colorful Grafton! 

Breakfast at Peace of Quiche.

Good night on the ILLINOIS RIVER.

CHICAGO RIVER / CHICAGO to JOLIET

WOW...We are officially off Lake Michigan! Captain Greg and Admiral Reenie both have a love / hate relationship with a Lake Michigan. The Lake can be absolutely beautiful and inviting at times...but it can also turn nasty very fast! Overall we loved our 300 mile adventure down Lake Michigan's west coast. Also, we both smile with relief that it's time to start the next chapter of our Great American Loop Adventure.

While in CHICAGO we docked at DuSable Harbor for six nights! The small towns we have visited the last month are charming, but it sure was exciting to be in the big city of CHICAGO, the third most populated city in the United States.

The Harbor is right downtown with a spectacular view of the Windy City and Navy Pier. There are about 15 Looper boats here in the Harbor.  It's fun to meet each other and trade Boat Cards.

Looper Tip: DuSable is slightly more expensive than other CHICAGO Marinas but, worth it :)

While in CHICAGO Greg explored the City and had a wonderful visit with a college Water polo friend aboard Thistle (Yeah, we had our first visitor of 2017!). Reenie took advantage of the great public transportation in CHICAGO, and rode the Blue Line to O'Hare Airport. Then she flew to California for a nice visit with her parents :)

Once we were both back aboard Thistle we planned our next stop in JOLIET.  The morning we planned to depart, Thistle had a dead battery? So Greg rode his bike to West Marine and purchased two new batteries. They weigh about 130 pounds each! We were very fortunate that West Marine delivered our new batteries to the Harbor (Thanks). After a long insulation project ... we were ready to depart the next morning.

The next morning we completed the Chicago Harbor Lock and started down the CHICAGO RIVER. Thistle traveled right through downtown CHICAGO (definitely one of the top highlights of our entire Loop adventure). We soon entered The Electric Fish Barrier. This is a system devised to keep the invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes ecosystem. After a long day on the river we finished Lockport Lock and docked on the JOLIET wall for the night XO.

Our first night in Chicago we visited the Columbia Yacht Club. The Club's home is "The Abby" an old Canadian ice breaking ship.

Greg explored The Windy City by bike and enjoyed a visit from Bill Lee (a UCSB water polo teammate).

Reenie enjoyed the opportunity to have a nice visit with her parents. I helped make my Mom's special 60 year old spaghetti recipe. 

Thistle on her dock in downtown Chicago. We watched a bride and groom take off on their honeymoon...and had a pet duck on our swim step!

After a five night stay in Chicago we planned our course to Joliet

We woke up early to push off the dock and discovered that Thistle had a dead battery? ( I guess she really wanted to stay anotther night in Chicago.)

With our mast down we finally left DuSable Harbor.

Ready for the Chicago Harbor Lock.

A floating Ballard Lock (a new style to us). 

On the beautiful Chicago River. 

A spectacular view from Thistle. 

All of the familiar Street/Bridge names. 

Our private architectural tour.

Once outside the city the the river bank turns very industrial.

Some of the lowest bridges on the entire Loop...glad we lowered our mast and antennae!

Under a railroad bridge.

The Chicago River. 

Entering The Electric Fish Barrier. The carp are jumping out of the water! (We understand some land on boat decks?)

The Electric Fish Barrier signs. 

Funny floating homes along the river. 

The Lockport Lock (we side tied to a barge!). 

On the Joliet Wall for the night with eight other Looper Boats.

The next chapter of our Great American Loop adventure is from CHICAGO, Illinois to Mobile, Alabama.