Havana to Beardstown to Grafton

66 low / 86 high                            1 lock today / 59 total for 2014

Tue. Sept. 9

No internet yesterday in Beardstown so no post. We left Havana late because it was a short day and we didn't want to spend a long time at our stop in Beardstown. The pictures will explain.

Logston Tug Service, Charis & Thanks Dad in the background.

Stairway down.

Our front yard.

Late afternoon entertainment.

Sunset with a passer-by.

Logston was a working tug company, 24/7. We departed there at 6 am in the dark for an 88 mile run to Grafton. Our last weather check Mon. morning showed good weather for Tues. Not so. I called the lock below Beardstown at 5 am and told him we would be there about 645 am. There were no tugs and we went right through. Another pretty section of the river but we passed many tows. The skies were looking ominous and I kept getting severe weather warnings on my XM weather receiver. We caught just the edge and had light rain for about an hour. It started to drizzle just as we were arriving at Grafton Harbor Marina which has all covered slips. Just after tying up the heavens broke loose. This leg ended our travels on the Illinois River, 328 miles. There are 15 looper boats here with some having been here for a week. There is a lock on the Ohio river that has been closed for maintenance and is backing up all the tows.  It is scheduled to open Fri. So 30 of us were picked up by a restaurant, Aeries, and had dinner. What a view. We will be weathered in here today with more thunderstorms so will head to Alton tomorrow, Thur. There we are across the river from St. Louis and plan to rent a car and visit.

All the houses along the river are elevated for flooding.

Approaching Grafton.

The marina.

Floating pool.

On site restaurant.

This is the confluence of the Illinois River and the Mississippi.

Yours truly.

John & Sue, Thanks Dad.

The gang at dinner.