Day #58 - Peoria, IL
September 27th, 2008Day #58 and we have gone about 1,000 miles. Feel like we are making a little progress again. Six boats left Ottawa this morning at 6:30 and left in fog.
Always a little scary but it cleared quickly. Seems like things were going our way today as the only lock we had to go through was Starved Rock. Called ahead and he said if we got there within the next 15 minutes he could take us before the barge, otherwise a 3-4 hour wait. Obviously, picked up the pace.
Glad to report we made it and locked through with five other Looper boats including Foreign Exchange, Ping, Grettatude and two sailboats. As you can see from the photo above, they don’t leave you much room to maneuver around the walls and barges.
Clear sailing all of the way. We were pleasantly surprised that the scenery quickly changed and the river was wider and much more scenic. Unfortunately we were not able to get pictures, but we actually saw a bald eagle and a few white pelicans.
Traveled about 64 miles today and it took 8+ hours. Good News, Foreign Exchange and Ping pulled into Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY). A little dicey pulling in as their break wall is partially submerged but the captain did a magnificent job as usual. Their fuel and pump out docks are inoperable because of the water level.
They have a lobster boil at the club tonight, but you had to have advanced reservations. We will go have cocktails with Charlotte and Bob on Foreign Exchange and then either walk into a pub in town or eat at the bar in the club. All in all a great day and the magnificent weather continues 50/82 and sunny today.
Not sure what tomorrow holds, but the captain is working on that while I do the blog.
