Paducah IL to Green Turtle Bay Marina, Lake Barkley KY

August 31
Yesterday we left the City of Paducah river dock, on the Ohio River, at 7:00. We had to travel about 7 more miles up the Ohio to where we were to turn east to go up the Cumberland River to the Barkley Lake Lock and Dam. We were warned that we may have to wait an extended time to lock thru do to the Kentucky L & D was closed for maintenance (this was a option to get into the Land Between the Lakes Area) so all the barge and tow traffic as being re-routed. It turned out that when we got to the Barkley L & D there was no traffic so we locked right thru. This was wonderful as it was in the middle 80's and no breeze. This lock was a 60 foot lift, our highest so far. Green Turtle Bay Marina and Resort is a big change from anchoring and tying up to lock walls on the Mississippi. Angie and I and two other looper couples jumped in our dinghies and and went about a half mile to the Thristy Turtle Restaurant for supper. We all had boat lights but no flashlights so we using my extra navigation app on my phone to get back to our boats in the dark. We'll be here for about a week to regroup.

To Port Ohio River, To Starboard Cumberland River

Cumberland was a little narrower than the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers

The lock was a 60 foot lift and we only had about a 10 minute wait to lock thru.

Angie liking her task of looping a floating bollard and riding up the wall with it.

Alton IL to Kaskaskia Lock Wall, to Cario, to Paducah KY

Maggie Jo in front of the arch in St. Louis-
  I wanted to order fries but wrong arch

After a 100 mile run we were able to tie the Kaskaskia lock wall.
We enjoyed the spot even though there was no facilities. Hoot Owl and Watermarks shared some laughs.

We are  on the Ohio River which slowed us down because we are heading against the
 current, reducing speed from 14 knots to 7.

Here we are at the National Quilting Museum- I was not anticipating this to be so awesome.
 Wonderful art pieces created out of fabric.

This is a dock that the city of Paducah put up for boat traffic.
We have power and were able to walk to town. 

Here we are at JP' Grill listening to music and enjoying visiting with Linda and Conrad (WaterMarks)

Grafton Il to Alton IL

We thought we brought things home we didn’t need, but we brought back more   We’ll see if we can find locations to stow this gear. 

Passed by Our Lady of the River Shrine near where the IL, MS, & MO Rivers meet.

We moved downriver for our first day on the Mississippi 20 miles to Alton Il. Our previous  marina didn’t have fuel due to the May flooding, Alton did. The marina is almost under the Clark Bridge. Weather permitting we will travel to Hoppies Barge to tie up for the night. No Marinas or fuel for three days and then up the Ohio River to Paducah  KY. 

The run down the Mighty Miss we had rain showers, it was still a nice trip where we used Our Chart Plotter, Radar, and weather radar on a cell phone.  

IVY Club, Peoria IL to Grafton Harbor, Grafton IL

We left IVY (Illinois Valley Yacht) Club, Peoria and went down river a few miles to Eastport Marina to have Maggie Jo pulled from the water to inspect the prop. We had hear a couple double thumps (keel and maybe prop hits) and a little vibration after the second thump. There was some minor damage to one blade so I pulled switched props being we carry a spare. We were back in the water in 1 1/2 hours and down the river.

We then had a beautiful run of 45 miles down to Tall Timber Marina in Havana IL. There was two pvc pipe markers in the water to mark the shallow channel in. When we pull into the marina basin the Asian Carp started jumping all around, none into the boat. We walked a couple block to a Dollar General and picked up a few more groceries. Seems to be our store of choice on the Illinois R.

Do to lack of Marinas and really not good anchorages we headed south for 100 miles (our second largest run since we traveled from Manistique MI to Sturgeon Bay WI. We tied up at Mel's River Dock, Hardin IL ($25 overnite if you eat at the restaurant). I wished we could stay for the Church supper that night.

In the morning we got two large cinnamon rolls to go and could only finish one. We traveled 21 miles to Grafton IL, north of St Louis. This is the area where the Illinois, Missouri, and Mississippi join. Very nice marina where we will leave Maggie Jo for 10 days to rental car back to Pella for our first grandson's first birthday and to empty our house for a renter for a year. Chris (son) and Rachel (daughter in-law in October) came over to visit from Kansas City.
We went to the City Museum and then back to the marina's oyster bar restaurant for supper.

I crossed over the bridge today to 65 years old.
Tom

More IL River

A floating bollard that goes down or up with the water..

Night time locking

First lock ever, on into Chicago. 

IL River slime on boat. 

Night Time Locking

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IL River

We have had a lot happen in the last few days...and we have learned a lot. Our mantra for this trip is “Go with the flow.” Once in awhile we say it out loud to each other. My biggest fear was being able to handle the locks and so far I have been able to handle them.  We had called ahead to Marseilles lock the night before and they instructed us to be there at 5:30am. So, our kids know this, but to Tom whenever we take a flight we are usually sitting at the gate before they have even posted our flight. With this being said we got up at 4:00am and Tom said should we call before we go.? I said no we will call on our way.... called and the person answered “what?” I could tell his day was not going well- long story short-we were asked to turn around and go back to the slip and come at 5:30pm. We were there at 5 and we waited ....and waited...9:35 pm we got through. In talking with guys they told us the first person that I talked to should not be working there. But here comes the thrilling part- we realized our next lock we would either have to get up at 4 or have the luxury of 4:45. You guessed it more sleep appealed to me! Tom quickly wired in a light for the bow of Maggie jo. And we ventured down the river. We learned that tows can be carried in the front as I thought Tom saw the big load that was about 100 yards away and he hadn’t, no worries we were safe. We admire the folks that drive those tow boats they were polite and kind as we radio back and forth. We made it to our slip at 12:15am and up and gone at 4:30am - Starved Rock And Dam got us through by 5:10am.  Shocking to all of you that know me - I had made breakfast and had coffee by then. We then started our trip down to to Ivy Club- I was thrilled to go there two reasons laundry and a swimming pool! I felt like a new women ! Toms coworkers came by on their way to a meeting in Chicago (Jeff and Ward) we had a wonderful dinner at the yacht club and they brought us snacks! Today we traveled to Havana, Illinois to Tall Timbers Marina - the river is low. We are blessed to able to experience this river journey! God is Good!

Chicago

Made it to Chicago from Racine WI Friday about 3pm. Traffic a little busier than Red Rock.
We are in a marina beside Solider Field. Saturday we walked to the Art Institute Museum, oh and had to hit a TJ Max and a Target. We then Uber’d to our’s and our son Ben’s Pella friend and wife Cameron and Jill Downing. In the evening we watch boats come back into the marina and yacht club. Sunday we got the boat ready for the IL River and also ordered groceries to be delivered to the boat from Amazon Prime/Whole Foods, handy and free delivery.

Traveled from Manitowoc to Sheboygan Wednesday morning where we met Natalie and Martin Wessemann (friends formerly from Pella) for lunch on the river downtown. It was good catching up with them. We then left for Port Washington WI and arrived at 5. Seas where 1-2 on the port stern most of the day. Pretty smooth ride. This Port is know for it’s clear blue water and it’s fishing charter business.
We left this morning at 11 heading past Millwaukee and onto Racine WI. Similar sea conditions and bright blue water.