OTTAWA to PEORIA / Thursday, September 1 (Day 224)

Admiral's Log:     7:20 am, Thrs. 9/1/16
                         Air Temp:   59     Water Temp:   73
                        Winds:   4 mph
                        Speed:   11 mph

Mike wanted to get started early because we had a 70 mile day and we hoped if we got to the lock early enough we might not have to wait too long. Liquid Assets joined us, but Ben on Have Another Day did not want to wake the girls, so we said we would see him at the marina. 

Before we left, I asked Ben about the commotion I heard last night. I saw red and blue flashing lights and several boats being loaded onto trailers. He said a couple of kids, not sure of age, had been drinking and went over the dam of the last lock we went through the day before! They ended up being all right. 

We had an easy lock through at the Starved Rock Lock and Dam, a 17 foot drop.

Mike was fascinated by a tow pushing 12 barges, he was nearly up in the trees trying to make the curve in the river. There had been a lot of flooding on the rivers. The Illinois Waterway was up 3 feet above normal. We have been told as we go south it should get better.

Amazing how these tows can maneuver corners and channels.

Some of the river flooding.

Bald Eagle

Golden Eagle

We got to Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY) at 2. We had drinks with Liquid Assets at the Marina bar, then, while I prepared dinner, Mike went with them to the "No Wake Zone" bar to tack a dollar and a boat card up on their Looper wall. He took a picture of Zephyr's card on the wall and added ours.

Mike and Liquid Assets adding our cards to the wall at "No Wake Zone".

Tim and Carol's dog Benji, sweetest dog ever!

Zephyr's card.