Connie's Bit on the Joliet to Peoria Cruise Time

In addition to being stuck in the mud all night at Henry Harbor, the Asian Carp fish were jumping against our boat all night.  With no AC, high temps and noisy fish, we didn't get a lot of sleep.  Cruising hasn't been a leisurely ride down the river so far.  There is always lots of work on deck to keep the boat going in the right directions and free of issues.  Most of the time, sleep comes very easily to us each night...all that fresh air!

After many days of 90 degree weather, we finally have a more balmy temperature and nice breeze.  The scenery is beautiful and the people all along the way are friendly and wonderful.  What a delight! 

The Illinois River is quite misleading.  There is definitely a large river here, but it is openly connected to lake after lake all along the way.  While in Peoria, we moored at the IVY Club.  This is the Illinois Valley Yacht Club.  By early afternoon Marv had the AC problem figured out, and ordered the parts.  We will receive them at a marina down the river.  Yeah, Marv!  That evening we shared dinner at the Ivy Club with our wonderful Panda Bear friends, Larry and Flora Moynihan from Boston.  The members and staff in this marina were very nice in helping us tie up, offering to share their filtered water, and offering help in any way.  While staying here, we had a chance to finish organizing "stuff," clean house and do laundry.  Early in the morning, I walked with Sadie to the light house and watched as our Panda Bear, Boston, friends left port.  ...such sweet sorrow.  I hope they have a safe journey and that we can reconnect in the year ahead.

Our Florida friends, Bob and Norma Dawson, live in Peoria.  Bob was recovering from knee surgery, so sweet Norma came and got us and took us to their beautiful, countryside home where they let Sadie run and romp.  I think Sadie thought she needed to stay there.  Norma chauffeured us to various stores so we could restock on supplies and foods, and then we shared a fun dinner.  We look forward to seeing them in Florida this winter.  Thank you, Norma!

We have thoroughly enjoyed our stay in Peoria.  The people are so nice, and the views of the river and lake here are beautiful.  I loved getting up early each day and walking Sadie to the lighthouse.  The fresh air was wonderful.  The club has a white duck that showed up out of who knows where and has been here several years.  They call him Aflac.  It has been fun to watch his socialization with all the boaters.

IVY Club Cardboard Box Race Winners

On Labor Day, the club had a celebration with barbecues and a cardboard box race.  Two tipped over, but all held together until the finish line.  Each boat had two people, and they both worked like crazy to get their vessels moving.  By sitting on the back deck of our boat, we had front row seats and really enjoyed the good times.

Early to bed tonight as tomorrow is an early start and a long trip.  We always try to plan our days so that we end in a marina or on a barge tie up.  The alternative is to let the dingy down so we can take Sadie to shore.  Either way, she knows she owns us!

Joliet to Peoria

We are now traveling on the Des Planes River. Just a short distance down river is Joliet IL. where we are going to spend the night. In order to get to our destination we must have 3 bridges open. In Joliet however the bridges do not open during rush hour, so we had a wait of 1 hour and 15 minutes. The city of Joliet maintains a municipal wall for traveling boaters. The wall is complete with power and water hookups and is located at a very nice waterfront park. We have been told it is in a rough part of town but the police department maintains a neighborhood precinct there and there are police coming and going all the time.

Looking back into Lockport Lock as we leave

Barge Traffic on the Des Plaines River at Joliet

The Sadie Too tied up on the Joliet Wall

The above picture is the Sadie Too, the morning after spending the night at the Joliet Wall. We waited here all morning as the Brandon Road Lock, about a mile and a half downstream is down for maintenance.

Man in a one man Dory

This fellow we first saw yesterday upriver about 30 miles. He is traveling by dory from Chicago to New Orleans.

Connie in the Brandon Road Lock

About 13 miles downriver from the Brandon Road locks the Des Plains River joins the Kankakee River. These two rivers form the Illinois River which we will follow for the next 272 miles to the Mississippi River.
About a mile below the beginning of the Illinois River is the Dresden Lock. We only had a very short wait at this lock.

Leaving Dresden Lock

Our next stop was at the Spring Brook Marina in Seneca Il. As with many of the overnight stops we just spent the night and moved on. We did eat supper at the local Restaurant however.
The following day we passed thru the Marseilles Lock with only about a 45 minute wait.

Waiting above the Marseilles Lock

After the Marseilles Lock we traveled downstream to the Starved Rock Lock. To pass thru this lock we waited 3hours and 45 minutes. This wait caused us to reach or next stop after dark. This stop was the Henry Harbor Marina, which is a municipal marina operated by the only bar in the town of Henry. When you call to make reservations you talk to whoever is tending bar at that time. We along with two other boats were told they could handle boats of our size with no problem. The result was all three of us sitting on the bottom in the mud all night. In the morning we offloaded our 200 gallons (about 1500 lbs). of water and were able to get underway without any damage as were the other boats. We now know to ask more questions when making arrangements to stay at marinas.

Passing and Tug and Barges

Starved Rock and Starved Rock Dam

The Sadie Too and Panda Bear waiting for Starved Rock Lock

Sadie Too rafted off of Panda Bear

Connie and Marv in Starved Rock Lock

After leaving Henry Harbor Marina we had only a short run to The Illinois Valley Yacht Club in Peoria where we would spend the Labor Day Weekend. This was a very nice facility and we were treated like royalty. While in Peoria we had the opportunity to visit with our friends Bob and Norma Dawson where Sadie was able to run free at their home with over 10 acres.

Upper End of Peoria Lake

Sadie Too and Panda Bear Moored at the IVY Club in Peoria

Connie's Comments on The Chicago Rivers

With temperatures in the 90's, we are grateful to have an ice machine and lots of water.  We also enjoy nice river breezes as we travel.  Today the river water was green as we started.  I was very tempted to jump overboard and take a quick dip.  Then I read, "Skipper Bob's Waterway Guide For Cruising From Chicago to Mobile."  He explains that the Cal-Sag Channel takes the sanitary waste of Chicago south through the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers to the Gulf.  All bets for a quick dip are off.  The further we traveled the dirtier the water got.  However, the massive bridges and historical buildings were beautiful as we traveled through the hub of working Chicago.  People everywhere are so nice.  One tug boat captain included us every time he called for a bridge lift. 

Boat travel is far different than I ever imagined.  I have very little time to sit and read or knit.  I watch the charts and river guides constantly, letting Marv know what to anticipate.  There are bridges with specific heights, locks with specific instructions and locations for tying lines, known river obstacles and more.  Once in a while Marv and I have enough time to take turns at a quick bathroom break or grab lunch from the frig. 

The locks are sometimes more difficult than I expected.  Good thing I brought a couple pairs of leather gloves or I wouldn't have palms left.  In some locks you hook your breast (mid-boat) line to a floating bollard where you hold secure while the waters raise or lower.  These are the easiest.  In others they throw you a fore and aft line to hold while the waters raise or lower.  In one lock I was on my back holding the rope so we could remain as close to the wall as possible.  This takes a lot more energy than I imagined and offers a bit of healthy exercise as we go.

...and then there is Sadie.  She enjoys laying on the deck and watching the water float by.  She loves all the other boaters and enjoys pulling into the marinas where she gets a lot of attention.  We suckered in for the purchase of the doggy "pee pad."  Well, Sadie is far above going on a box with fake grass on it.  We'll see where this goes after a year.  She would rather wait all day for the ride to shore.

Cal-Sag, Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

Once through the Thomas S. O'Brien Lock we were traveling on the Cal Sag Waterway which takes us to the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal. The following picture is looking up the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal or the Chicago River. This is where we would be coming from had we been able to go through downtown Chicago.

Junction of the Cal Sag and Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

 At the junction of the Cal Sag and the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal we encountered very heavy commercial tug and barge traffic. While it did slow our progress some the tug boat pilots without exception were wonderful to work with. Many times the tug boats would move over or stop what they were doing moving barges around just to let us by. This is not something that they have to do and by law they have the right of way. In order to return this courtesy we always call any working tugs that we come in close proximity with, on the radio, to ask how they would like us to pass.

Typical Congestion on the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

Sadie Too on the Ship Canal

The above picture is pretty much what we were looking at for the rest of our trip through the end of the Sanitation and Ship Canal ending at the Lockport Lock. While this was not the most picturesque scenery, it was very interesting and something that you just don't get to see first hand from land.

Waiting to enter the Lockport Lock

In preparing for our trip around the Great Loop we read many accounts who have completed this journey and attended a couple of seminars, so we would know what to expect. Most people say that locking is the worst part of the trip. We have found that waiting to pass thru a lock is really the worst part. While all of the lockmaster have been extremely helpful and wonderful to work with, (by the way they are government workers) commercial traffic has priority and they can take a very long time to get into and out of the locks, especially if they need to breakdown their load to fit into the lock. That being said the lockmasters do their best to get pleasure boats through as quickly as they can.

Leaving the Lockport Lock

Upon leaving the Lockport Lock we are no longer on the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal. We are now entering the Des Plains River.







Calumet River

Entering the Calumet River

I am calling this the second day as the 1st day was spent crossing Lake Michigan and it was really very uneventful. It got a little rough for a couple of hours but for the most part just a long boat ride. We spent the first night at Hammond Marina in Hammond Indiana which is located at the Horseshoe Casino. It is a very nice Marina and we enjoyed our stay there.
Due to the high water level in Lake Michigan we were unable to utilize the Chicago River to enter into the inland river system. At normal level there is a bridge with 17' Clearance. With all of our antenna's lowered, the top of our radar is 15'9". With the 2 1/2 foot higher than normal water level, we could not clear this bridge. We instead entered through the Calumet River to the Cal Sag Waterway.


The Deadly Draw Bridge

The draw bridge in the distance has a clearance of 7 feet. As we passed under it the bridge tender decided to lower the bridge with us directly underneath, but just before it came down on us it began going back up, this was our 1st bad situation.

Sadie Too in the Calumet River

Typical look at Calumet River

The above picture is a typical look at the Calumet River. You will notice the boat Panda Bear in many of our picture, they were our traveling companion for the first few days of our trip.


Entering Thomas S. O'Brien Lock

Last look at the Calumet River From Thomas S. O'Brien Lock

The above pictures are from the Thomas S. O'Brien lock which will drop us from the Calumet River to the Cal Sag Channel. This was our 1st of over 100 locks we will travel through.