Saturday October 10, 2009

Waved good by to Beardstown at 7:00AM. Quite, calm, a little rive fog, and 36°. Easy pass through the LaGrange Lock with only a three foot drop. Went through with another craft and we're on our way to the Mississippi.

Oh-Oh. We seem to have hit something on the port side. We're in 18' - 20' water and nothing obvious on the surface. Has been a lot of little ca-ca (see nautical notes for floating debris) below the last damn. We've been watching and avoiding everything however something was under the surface. We're experiencing a little vibration at a higher rpm and need to run at at a reduced speed.

Called our intended destination marina for a referral of a competent shipyard / marina so we can completely check out this problem. Gave us the number of Port Charles Harbor Marina, three miles up river at St. Charles, Missouri. Had them take the boat out of water, eyeballed for apparent damage but couldn't see any. Removed props and checked shafts. All OK. Will have to send propellers to specialist for electronic scanning and proper pitch. Will probably be here a couple of days.

Discussions to what we hit is still unknown, because whatever it happened to be, was totally out of sight. Suggested possibilities have included:

• River Monster
• Submerged tree.
• Damaged and sunken buoy
• Bull Shark
• Diver
• Ice
• Wreck
• Stealth Bat boat

Friday October 9, 2009

We're stuck in Peoria! Lock repair at the Peoria Lock. Barge traffic backed up north and south. The port of Peoria is a very busy area with a great number of grain barges. So normal work on this lock definitely is a hindrance to normal traffic.

Five pleasure craft trying to lock through and had to wait an hour just floating in the river. Finally they're able to get us all in the lock with the maintenance crew and locked down. Alright. Now we're on course to Beardstown, IL at 9:30AM. Heavy rain all day so far and 47°.

Tied up alongside a working barge in Beardstown, IL. at Logdson Tow Service. Safe but no facilities. Two other boats here - one from Grand haven. Made a quick run to the local grocery store for a few things (potato salad being one) and had to carry all we bought back to Brightwater. Hard. Not sure everyone carried an equal share and some bags became lighter as treats disappeared. But we're restocked for awhile.

Thursday October 8, 2009

Called Starved Rock Lock on the cell phone this morning and requested a lock through before we left the dock. We're the only craft in the area so we were able to start down at 7:00AM. Took more than a half and hour to fill the lock and another 25 minutes to go through. We're finally in the river and making our way south after the lock at 8:15AM. Rained all day as well as expected tomorrow. An overnight riverboat cruise headed north to Starved Rock Park eyeballed us and waved.

Docked in downtown Peoria around 3:15PM along with jumping Asian carp. We've the fifth boat staying here today. Because the city closes its municipal dock after labor day, we're all allowed to stay overnight without cost. The Waterside area has a number of restaurants and Joe's Crab will be our pick. Long Island boiled dinner. The best. Um-um good. As a treat, the crew stood still long enough to be memorialized for this blog.

Wednesday October 7, 2009

Away from Joliet town dock this morning at 7:15AM. Calm with expected 60° and sunshine. Hit the first lock immediately and then had to wait 25 minutes for other boats who as it turned out couldn't get past the lift bridge for another hour. So we locked through alone but lost time. Next lock had commercial traffic and we had to tie up for an hour while they worked the barges and tow out and up river. By that time the other boats caught up and we went through together. Too much time lost so we'll have to determine an alternate dockage tonight, where ever that may be. So goes river travel.

Pulled up the dock at Starved Rock Marina at 3:45PM. Port side tie enabled us to raise and secure the radar arch (TV is back), lift the dingy on top, and put back our Bimini canvas top. Marina's restaurant had "cheap chicken Wednesday night special" and $2 beers. We partook.

Historically Starved Rock was appropriately named for an Indian Warrior who held out against the Army atop a high rock outcropping. No matter how the Army tried they could not get him down or win the stand off. Eventually the Indian starved. Thus the name of the State Park and lock. So the courage is honored.

Tuesday October 6, 2009

Out of Burnham marina at 7:00AM CST. An hours run down the Lake to Calumet Harbor and the SAG channel. waves 4 ft with south wind 15 kt. Rocky sleeping last night with south wind blowing into marina and causing all boats to roll a little. Nothing major but some anxiety.

Slow going as usual through the Sag channel. Barge city. The underbelly of industrial Chicago. Just have to pay attention but not difficult.

Not difficult! Wow. Not until we reached the electric fish barrier. Quadrupled in length and seriously electrified. Coast Guard boats. Warnings everywhere. Electronic signs. Boats stacked up.The USCG comes up along side the boats and passes a brochure describing the barrier and all the restrictions and problems a boat could encounter. Then you call a command center that asks you recorded questions of obvious agreement expected. If all is in compliance (with their stipulations) you're in the cue and instructed via VHF when to proceed. If you fall overboard in the barrier the Coast Guard will not rescue you. If you willfully violate any restriction, it results in a class D felony and a $32,500 fine. Presumably if you fall over board in the highly electrified water, you'll be dead anyway and the fine's no worry.

Docked at free wall in downtown Joliet and on the lookout for "Joliet Jake".

Monday October 5, 2009

Brightwater under way - making way. Once again.

Heading south on the river system through Chicago. Out of Holland channel at 8:15AM EST into 3-4 ft. waves and WSW breeze around 12kt. Waves slowly becoming less as we cross the 86 mile stretch until 1 1/2 ft. at Chicago.

Chicago skyline looks formidable and clean. Docked at Burnham Park Municipal marina approximately 4:00PM CST. Docked to port on the long outside of S dock to allow us to take down the dinghy and the radar arch for the low bridge trip, tomorrow, down the Cal-Sag Channel and the Calumet river. Postponed the lowering of the arch till the morning so we could watch the Packers-Vikings Monday night game.