Log Extract 09/12

Here is the log for the 12th.  We arrived in Grafton IL, 1/2 mile from the mighty Mississippi, yesterday afternoon.  Will cover the trip down from Havana and our first day on the Big Guy with tomorrow's post

B & B

09/12:  15,340 days of marriage…and every one a day to cherish. A great way to begin our collection of more day…away at 0800 on a cool, sunny and breezy day on the River.  At 0825 learned by radio from lock 6 miles ahead that delay would be 2+ hours to lock down…turned around  and went dack upstream for a couple of miles and tie to city wall to wait out the delay.  Finally, at 1125 were out of lock and on the way.  Arrived in tall Timbers marina, Havana IL at 1530 following a run of 46 miles.

Happy 42nd  Anniversary to US!! Lovely warm sunny day to continue our cruise down the Illinois. Asian carp are jumping but so far none have killed themselves against the boat or landed in on the swim platform…a ucky mess I’d rather avoid. Stopped for the night in Havana, IL (we’re in Havana and Melissa and Tim are in Vienna at the start of a 3 wk RnR! Know their spirits are dampened following the murder of their colleagues in Libya. Plus, one of Melissa’s jobs in Baghdad is to deal with crises of this sort-probably not the best time for her to be gone. As her Mom, am glad they are). The girls and I did our usual checking out the town walk as Bill secured us in the Marina. Havana is a quaint river town..3800 residents. Buildings still retain 1800’s detailed architecture; several gift shops; unusual number of attorneys ??. In the 1800’s it had the largest fresh water fishery in the US! Today tourism and downstream a mile or two the several large docks with silos appear to create the town’s commerce. We chose to eat ashore at the recommended best restaurant in town—nothing too good for us on this day. Concerned that it being a small town the restaurant would close early, we arrived @ 6:30. Yes, at that time it was somewhat empty. However, by 8 PM it had filled up with several diners just getting off the golf links! Our marina is the Tall Timbers----small, in an inlet which when there is normal water levels is at the mouth of a fairly large slough. It was quaint with pretty rustic facilities dockside with modern facilities up on shore. Oh yes—re: dinner it was quite good though had to chuckle at our dessert request –a cookies and cream ice cream cake “being somewhere, we know we have it, just can’t find it!”

Miles this Leg; 46; Total Miles; 1,198