Leg #18 - Ogden Dune, Indiana to Grafton, Illinois 9/9/15 thru 9/24/15

We left Vandalia at 8:08 right after my meeting and arrived in Ogden Dunes, IN at 12:06. This is the closest the boat has ever been to home.  Ken took the car back and got a cab back to the boat while I put everything away.  Driving back and forth means that you take all dirty laundry and perishable foods home and bring back fresh everything!

We headed out very early in the morning and knew that it was going to be a little rough.  Since we only had 30 miles to go we thought we could take it. It was choppy most of the way with it getting slightly wild by the time we got into the Chicago outer harbor about 2.5 hours later.

We went into the Chicago Lock when the doors opened and green light on.  Behind us came two boats that we had met in Grand Haven a week or so ago—Kat in the Hat and Gimme Time.  We had a hard time because of the short lines from the walls to the boat and the current pushing the boat against the wall. 

We had reserved a slip at Marine City between State and Dearborn Streets right in the heart of downtown. 

After we settled in, we headed off for lunch at Portillo’s and split a Chicago hot dog and beef sandwich.  We then walked the Magnificient Mile and along the river.  We probably should have gone to one of the museums but since we’d been at it since 6:00am this morning on a few hours of sleep, we both were a little easy to talk into heading back to the boat and river watching for a bit. 

I tried to find the Mariano Market that everyone talks about but my GPS wasn’t working well and I walked around the wrong area for quite some time before I figured that out.  It is always an interesting walk around anyway but the market proved to be quite an additional feat and I gave up. 

We felt the need to try Chicago pizza before we left so we headed to Giordano’s for dinner.  We had a local escort who we tipped for his elaborately fast-paced guidance to our restaurant. 

We headed out early in the morning to make the Amtrak Railroad Bridge before rush hour. 

We began to encounter some first’s:  First time to: talk to and ask which side to pass a barge, to get out of the way of a barge, go in a lock with other barges.

This is the Lockport Lock.  We arrived here with one other boat and then 6 other boats ended up tying up to the wall to lock through, hopefully, all together.  We could hear the barge operators talking and trying to get all of the PC’s into the lock with them.  One tow had 3 (which means he has 3 barges) and one had just one so they thought that we could all fit into the lock with them.  Of course, while all this maneuvering is happening, a storm is blowing over and it starts pouring.  By the time we were entering the lock, at least the wind had died down but everyone was soaked by the time we dropped the 39 feet and headed out.

On to the wall in Joliet.  About ten looper boats ended up on the wall around 4:00pm.  After two people fell in the water and a small crash of stern to bow on the boats right behind us, we gathered for docktails. 

I think everyone was tired from the efforts of today.  It was a first time on this river and encountering barge for most.  Some lively discussion ensued on the correct use of the “1” and “2” direction signals given by the tow operators.  I’m not sure it ever got settled among the group.  All I know is that if someone tells me “pass me on the one” that I’m going to the right and opposite for the two. 

We ate left-overs for dinner and went to bed early only to be awakened at 1:30am with an alarm going off.  Again, the CO2 alarm was sounding and we had some warm batteries to contend with.  After removing one battery from the line, we were able to head out.

Three locks before we arrived at the Heritage Harbor Marina and had a nice dinner with other Loopers at the Red Dog Grill.

Early in the morning, we headed out for Peoria, following Ron and Michelle from Spirit Journey, and arrived at the Ivy Yacht Club where we had dinner across the street with Ron and Michelle and

On to Havana and the Tall Timbers Marina along with Spirit Journey and Monty and Keri on Dreamgirl.  We found a local Octoberfest for dinner and a few groceries.

Our next stop was at Beardstown where we tied to the Logston Tug Service Barge for the night.  We had a nice lunch at River Town Cafe and a decent dinner at a local Mexican restaurant. The town appears to be having a hard time competing with the businesses out by the highway.

We traveled about 90 miles and arrived at Grafton Harbor before dinner. We met up with Something Special and around the pool for cocktails.  Both looper boats left early the next morning.

Update 8/25/16 - The next morning Ken was transported to the hospital in Alton, then to Barnes Jewish in St. Louis where he received 5 stents after having a heart attack while in the Grafton Marina. Ken is doing well and everyone was a great help.  We went back to Ohio were we have stayed while the boat spent the winter on the river.