Chicago to Grafton

Missy and Rich
Trump tower in background

Beautiful Wrigley Building

With Missy and Rich Ray aboard, we left Chicago on Monday, Sept. 16^th, in the company of After Taxes and Loop Dreams.  The wind was howling, but once we made the turn around the inner breakwater we  only had to go a short distance to reach the Chicago lock.  The lines in the lock need to be at least 5 feet longer and with the strong wind, holding onto them was a challenge. Once through the lock, we were in the calm water of the Chicago River and again enjoyed the view of Chicago coming to life in the morning.

Loop Dreams and After Taxes
going under low bridges on Chicago River
Must be able to clear 17 feet
to traverse the Chicago River route.

Water taxi waiting for passengers
from the train station.

Leaving the beautiful scenery of downtown Chicago, we entered the industrial Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal fondly referred to as “the twelve miles of hell”.  No wake speed and frequent waits are required as barges are loaded and being fleeted throughout. 

Fleeting--putting barges together
to make tows.  No room to pass.

Chinese characters on the storage bins.

Confluence of the Chicago Ship and
Sanitary Canal and the Calumet Sag

We arrived at Lockport Lock around 4 p.m. and had to wait over an hour.  When we did get in, we needed to raft alongside After Taxes as several of the bollards were inoperable.  Upon leaving the lock, After Taxes port prop was vibrating badly—an indication it had probably picked up something in the lock.  We were planning to go farther, but with this issue and a long delay at the next lock, we chose to stay at the Joliet wall for the night.  Terrapin had been there the night before without incident and decided to stay with us.  Tom donned dive gear and plunged into the disgusting brown water to find a thick yellow tow line wrapped around After Taxes’ prop.  The rest of us sat around with drinks to watch the show and give moral support. 

Cathy holding the huge line
retrieved from After Taxes prop

John helping Tom prepare to dive

Ladies enjoying the show

Cathy had a friend in the area who took them to a grocery.  Upon return with bags of groceries in both hands, Cathy’s foot caught on a chain and she almost fell between their boat and the extremely rough wall.  John pulled her into the boat, but she banged up her knee and was quite shaken.  Luckily nothing was broken or sprained, just mighty sore.   We ended the evening with a Ray domino challenge, brothers vs. wives.  Women victorious.  Notice a pattern???

Tuesday morning we were up at the crack of dawn to catch a reported early locking at Brandon Road.  As Loop Dreams pulled away from the wall, their gear cable jammed in forward causing them to remain behind for repairs.    The rest of us arrived at the lock only to find a two hour delay.  While we performed the lock-waiting dance, we met new loopers, Craig and Kathy aboard Northern Star.  They started their loop at Manitowoc  one week ago and chose to join our fleet. 

Northern Star

Circling with Northern Star
while waiting for the lock to open

The second lock of the day, Marseilles, had “mechanical issues”, so we had a substantial wait there also.  Around 6 p.m. we pulled into the marina at Starved Rock State Park.   The Illinois River is very low (following a record flood this spring) and many of the marinas do not have enough depth for us.  This one was barely acceptable with less than 5 feet.  We draw 3 ½ to 4 feet, so we cleared although we kicked up plenty of mud.  Terrapin draws 4 ½ and got hung up on her first docking attempt, but captain Tom Rea backed her off and we found a slip that could accommodate her. (The marina staff was gone by the time we arrived.)  Our boats were so close to the bottom that we stirred up the Asian carp and sent them into a leaping frenzy.  The water was boiling with them.  One even landed on the docks and flopped around until he managed to fall back into the water. Later we were told that the week before 6,000 had been netted in that marina.  We see them frequently jumping in our wakes or along the shore as we travel down the river.

Duck blinds are a common sight
on the Illinois River

An attempt to keep the Asian carp out
of Lake Michigan.  This barrier is close
to Chicago.

Although Starved Rock Marina was satisfactory, we would go into Heritage Harbor (12 miles upriver) in the future.  Somehow we missed it in the guidebooks.  After Taxes generator is acting up, so they have ordered a new water pump that will hopefully be delivered Thursday morning.

 

Dinner at IVY
Starting with Missy and going around the circle:
Missy, Rich, Donna, John, Ken, Barb, Craig, Kathy, Tom, Cathy, Gary

Wednesday taskmaster Tom called the lock and was told we could be through if we arrived in 45 minutes.  So we hustled, arrived in plenty of time and waited another 2 hours.  We have been less than happy with the Illinois lockmasters.  But the good news was that while we were waiting,  Loop Dreams caught up.  We traveled to Peoria where everyone but Terrapin stayed at Illinois Valley Yacht Club.  Terrapin went on to the downtown docks as their draft was questionable for IVY.  Missy and Rich were generously offered the use of a car from a member to get some necessary supplies.  Dinner for 13 was enjoyed at the yacht club.  Unfortunately, Loop Dreams experienced shifting issues again upon entering the marina.  They will have to lay up a few more days to get a new cable ordered and installed.  Bummer!

After Taxes squeezing out of lock

Terrapin leaving lock between wall and barges.

After Taxes’ generator part arrived before 8 Thursday morning, so we topped off with fuel and left around 9:30.  Amazingly,  the lockmaster at Peoria allowed us to lock down in between two sections of a double tow which greatly shortened our wait. Between Peoria and Grafton, the possible anchorages were too shallow at this time of the year.  We ended up tied to barges at Logston Tow Service (about 80 miles downriver from Peoria) that evening. 

Logston Tow Service.  Any port in a storm!

A lack of communication led to part of our crew at one restaurant and the rest at another for dinner.  Later in the evening, a thunderstorm rocked us, but we were securely tied down.

Along the Illinois River, we turned 9000 miles.  Whew!

Friday we left early and arrived at Grafton Marina late afternoon.  All of us were ready for the comforts of a deep marina.  Grafton’s very nice marina fit the bill!  The crew of Aurora, a 22 foot sailboat, was there celebrating their loop completion.  An amazing feat in a boat that size!!  World traveler, Kelsey Ray, arrived with Missy’s mother, Judy, and friend, Gordon.  Kelsey will ride with us to Hoppies, while Judy and Gordon will ride until Alton.  After our long days on the river, we were all too tired to walk to town so we enjoyed pizza on the restaurant deck at the marina.

Kelsey hugging fabric
wrapped tree in Grafton

Brothers aboard
Tom and Rich