River progress

The Dow is up 485 today and we too are "pumped-up" to travel the IL Water Way. We departed before 8:00 AM and made anchor at 4:30 PM. Jay has galley duty today, so we had cereal for breakfast, Susan's wonderful chicken soup for lunch and some great salmon on the grill for dinner. Cookies later for a treat ( thanks, Mary)
We have really eaten great on this trip and simple foods combined with portion control have made it work. We also have enjoyed fewer delays, like at the locks. Main reason for the delays you might ask????? Some substantial delays at the locks as tug boats push their barges up the river. You see, commercial traffic gets to go first thru the locks. These river boats can push 15 barges up or down the rivers and you really need to try not to "piss them off" since they truly do "rule the roost".

"This is what we came here for," said Capt'n Brad. The reference, of course, was to our non stop, 9 hour, wind assisted 69.3 mile miles on the IL Waterway today. Progress is now part of our objective for each day.

Some other challenges and excitement today would include: Coming to the Peoria dam and Lock. They were totally flooded and we motored over the top of them both. How about facing-off against a tugboat coming North, we are going South, and we have to call him and ask for directions as as we prepare to pass. Oh, also, the guy speaks with a Southern drawl that no-one in our boat can understand and he uses codes like, "whistle 1". So, Jay needs to call this guy to confirm and they are busy people who are not really interested in talking to Northerners from Wisconsin.

So, we are anchoring tonight with a beautiful sunset and I snapped this quick photo which doesn't do justice to the richness of the colors and the cool quiet night we have here in Beardstown, IL. Tomorrow will be "the mighty Mississippi".

Bill
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