Grafton, Illinois




Our dockage at the Old Lock wall in Henry

 

One of many houses/cottages on stilts along the river.

The view early this morning from our anchorage

One of the many tows along the river (don't know why they call them tows, the tug actually pushes these barges up and down the river). This tow is pushing a group 5 barges long by 3 wide.





Some of the birds on Lake Peoria

Arrived in Grafton, Illinois today. This is where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi, so our next move will be down the Mississippi. Left the anchorage about 8:30 this morning, wanted to make sure that the possibility of fog was past. A little warmer this morning, no frost on the front deck. As the day wore on, it warmed up nicely; it was 78 degrees in Grafton when we arrived at about 1:30. Today, met and passed a few tows. Came by several more levees and sloughs, then started seeing some hills and rocks closer to Grafton. Many homes and/or cottages along the river are built on stilts, shows how high the water levels are at times. Leaves along the river are starting to turn yellow, with the occasional bits of red. Saw some carp flying today, but not many. We heard that some other boats had carp jump right into the back of the boat. When we got here to Grafton, met several friends, other loopers who we have met earlier. Lady Royal, General Delivery, NaMaka, Tortuga are all here, as well as Patience. We all got together for a drink tonight, nice to get caught up.
The people here at the marina are very friendly and helpful, couldn't ask for better. Nancy, Eddie, Wayne and I all managed to get into town for haircuts, feels good.