Loop Life with Greg and Reenie: 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!