Aug 20

Peoria to Havana IL 47 miles 1 lock


Left bed a little late as it was raining this morning.  It was difficult night as the water did drip on my side of the bed.  Had to Hug the wall as it was between Dianne and me, therefore to hug close to Dianne would have meant having it drip right on me.  So it was like sleeping alone,  I need every one to say together poor Allan, you always have to suffer.  


We discussed leaving or staying it was tossup as the weather was not great but not horrible either.  We left, and it made for an interesting day. 


The first problem was my electrical cord to hook the boat to the dock power seems to have low level short in it.  This means it slowly melting the ground connection so I need to replace it.  It makes taking it off really hard as it sticks.  I tried today but no joy maybe tomorrow.  l


Then the Peoria dock took 2 hours to lock us through.  It was long wait but I made it.  While waiting I anchored out and right away we had a problem.  I drifted over a dead head (log).  I could see just under the boat on both radar and visually.  Decided to have a coffee and see what happened a tow passed by left a huge wake and either lifted us over the log or pushed the log tip towards shore.  I then winched the boat forward and when we were well clear started the boat and moved 100 ft to try again.  The log never again posed a problem.


Then the lock called and said to we were clear to enter.   When we asked where to stay he said center.  I thought this meant a center tie.  But in this lock there is no tie and were expected to just float around in the center.  I parked the boat next to a ladder and hand walked the boat down as the water fell.  (Of course this means having to wash my hands before touching anything.)


Next we called the marina where we planed to stay and they indicated lots of space but shoaling problem meant we might touch coming in.  I said we would tray as had a marked channel.  When we entered we never saw less than 4.5 ft so it an entrance and easy docking.  


As we were paying for the berth for the night a thunderstorm rolled in and really flooded the area.  So as the check in spot was bar with bar food we had drinks, hamburgers  and nachos.  It was a good choice the beer was  bottom filled first time I had seen that, and Dianne had two mudslides (iced coffee liquor with vodka) needless to say neither of us are feeling any pain tonight.  


Walked to a dollar general and bought the important supplies:

  • Ice cream sandwiches to eat on the walk back
  • Little Debbie’s Swiss rolls 
  • Twizzlers to resupply those lost while waiting for the lock
  • tooth paste
  • new reading glasses for Dianne


Stuff we saw today

  • bald eagles chasing a sea gull
  • Bald eagle seal a fish from turkey buzzards 
  • egret catch a fish
  • Old locks on the side of the river
  • three tows with barges in row that we passed
  • 6 fishing boats and one guy just cruising the river at high speed
  • 3 Thunder Storms
  • two power plants
  • three soy crushers 



 





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