SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021
In a nutshell, RIVER CRUISING IS AWESOME! After dining overlooking the Chicago River prior to our leaving Lake Michigan, I was a bit concerned about cruising through downtown Chicago as we watched all the tug boats, tour boats, speed boats, kayaks and stand-up paddleboarders weaving their way up and down this narrow channel on a Thursday afternoon. However, I am very happy to report that the very next morning as we started down this beautiful stretch of the “Sanitation and Ship Canal,” we were the only boat cruising down the river! It was amazing, delightful, peaceful and beautiful!
As the Chicago River became the Illinois River, we started seeing some of the barge and towboat operations and an amazing variety of industrial factories, cranes and other huge machines, loading docks, etc. It was fascinating.
We have now cruised over 200 miles since leaving Chicago, with just 88 miles to go until the Illinois River joins the Mississippi near Grafton, IL (where we bought the boat and will stay for 4 nights).
Here are some of the reasons we love River Cruising:
1. The waters are very calm most of the time, with a current of 1 mph….very soothing and relatively stress-free….not much “fetch” to think about! Whew!
2. The lockmasters are very friendly and helpful as we tie up around the “floating bollards” that allow our boat to stay in place as the water is let out (we are going down river).
3. Most of the towboat captains are equally friendly and helpful as we ask permission to pass them via VHF radio and make sure we pass on the side that they request. These professionals are the real experts on the river and I am in awe of the way they push and maneuver 3-6-9-12 barges at a time.
4. I continue to appreciate Gary’s boating knowledge and expertise, and am grateful as well for all that he is teaching me. I’ve now been able to “captain” our boat down the river on 3 different occasions while Gary takes his afternoon nap.
This means I’m also very grateful for well-placed channel markers and well-dredged channels (thank you U.S. Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers!), as well as the printed and electronic guides we have along with us. It makes it all pretty easy!
5. There are lots of small towns, campgrounds and recreation areas scattered along the river’s edge, as well as barge facilities, but mostly we see trees, trees, trees and birds, birds and more birds…flycatchers, white pelicans, egrets, herons and lots and lots of EAGLES! They soar over the river (and over us) and swoop down to catch a fish. Wow!
6. We have now anchored out behind two different islands that are deep enough and sheltered from the river traffic (mostly barges that run 24/7). It is so much easier than I thought it would be…and very, very peaceful. Both times we’ve anchored with other “Looper” boats.
7. We’ve also stopped at 2 beautiful marinas—Heritage Harbor in Ottawa, IL
and the Illinois Valley Yacht & Canoe Club (aka The IVY Club) in Peoria—and this is where we’ve met and are really getting to know other boaters who are on this same America’s Great Loop adventure. For the last 80 miles, we’ve traveled in what I call “boat parades”—groups of 4-8 boats, one behind the other—from having gone through a lock together. (Lockmasters prefer to lock through several “pleasure craft” at a time, which means we sometimes have to wait while a barge goes through—up to 3 hours so far—so we end up parading out of there and going on our way together.}
7. Which bring me to one of the greatest joys of being a Looper—the people!!!
Everyone is so friendly, so helpful, so fun, so down-to-earth. Regardless of boating experience, size or class of boat, background, hometown, age, etc., we are making friends with some wonderful people and everyone is willing to help everyone else (“that’s what boaters do!”). AND, one couple just introduced us to the official Loopers’ Toast (an Irish proverb):
There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea,
But the BEST SHIPS ARE FRIENDSHIPS, may they always be! Amen!
The next part of our trip will create some more adventures. We plan to cruise about 200 miles down the Mississippi River from Grafton/Alton, IL to Cairo (sounds like Karo syrup) and the mouth of the Ohio River (which will take us over to the Tennessee River). The current is faster, the tugs are bigger & longer and there aren’t as many opportunities to stop for fuel and provisions, but we are preparing ourselves well for that and will have 4 nights in Grafton before we start this next leg. Stay tuned!
We’re doing great….continuing to dance…and loving this…S…L…O…pace!
Blessings to everyone who is cruising along with us. Big hugs from both of us!
Cruising with Gary & Annie 