Day 92 Tuesday, September 20, 2022
Joliet Illinois to Ottawa Illinois, Heritage Harbor Marina
HOTTTT!!! Temperatures in the mid 90's, 105 degrees in the lock.
6:30am start, 6 boats arrived at Brandon Road Lock at 6:45. Even though we had contacted the Lock and looked at the Army Corps Lock report (a que showing barge traffic wait time) we still waited for a barge to come out. Finally out of lock at 08:25. Not too bad in the scheme of things.
Depending on the size of the tow it can take 3 hours for it to lock through!
Not Peru, New York!!
Floating vacation homes!
We had a 3 lock day: Brandon Road, Dresdon and Marseilles. We rafted each time with other boaters (PC = pleasure craft vs tugs) At one time we were rafted 4 boats wide. The boat next to the wall does all the work so we had it easy. Out of Dresdon Lock at 10:55.
Floating bollard in the lock. On the Erie and Champlain Canals you hold on to lines to lock through. On the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers you need to use the floating bollards. You pass your line around the bollard at midship and float as the level water changes in the lock.
We saw lots of eagles!!
More pelicans!
Rachel on 2nd Chance handling the line at the lock wall. I could see her through her their starboard from our bow.
Water Witch and Blue Yonder were together, The Grand Wazoo was solo. All of us in the lock with tug and barge Carol Ann. We were out at 2:50p BUT the right side door was stuck..... The door did not open far enough for the barge to exit, we had to weave around it (two ninety degree turns) to get out.
Tow and barge ahead of us.
Check out the stuck door. 2nd Chance made it out!
Excitement over, on to Hammond Harbor Marina. It is actually a resort with pool, 2 restaurants,, courtesy car, Ship's store with liquor (!), rental boats and vacation homes. We hurried to get tucked in, now 3:45pm. Jeremy, the dock master gives a daily briefing on our river travel from Ottawa to Paducah, The man knows his stuff! He talked for 2.5 hours -- sharing best anchorages, fuel and marina stops, lock and barge etiquette. Local knowledge regarding low water levels at anchorages and marinas as where to go/not go if late exiting a lock is invaluable. He covered the Illinois, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers.
Now 7:30pm: quick dinner then planning our next day with Laura and Joe.
No comments:
Post a Comment