Havana, Illinois

Friday, September 26, 2014

Stats:

Peoria Lake to Havana, Illinois.  8:00 to 2:00, 60 miles.

The others we had been travelling with decided to get up early and go but we thought we’d take it a little slower today.  We like to baby our older diesel engine, Pearl the Perkins, and she’s happier a knot slower.  We also get much better fuel mileage that way.

                               The city of Peoria                    

We had a slow coffee, got ready and cast off to head next door to another marina to buy some diesel.  The day was spent quietly drifting down the river.  We passed the odd tow but they were much less frequent and we’re getting used to them, so no problem.

We anchored out behind Quiver Island near the little town of Havana, Illinois and dinghied into town to buy a few supplies.  After we docked the dinghy we asked a local for directions and she insisted on giving us the keys to her truck as the store was about five miles away.  People are so generous!  So we loaded up on supplies and are now WELL stocked.

  

We got stuck behind this RR liftbridge.  The guy was kind enoughto lift it the required 10' or so between trains to let us squeak through.

We’re starting to see more and more of the Asian Carp.  Jeff spent some time getting his speed fix, racing around the anchorage (the sound of the high pitched motor gets the carp going and they start jumping).  I was trying to capture it on video and had some success but they are crafty little things.  I caught a few on camera but there were lots that I missed.

                                                               Our backyard tonight.