Gran Vida's Great Half-Looped Adventure: Ottawa, Illinois

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Stats:
Joliet to Ottawa, Illinois. Early to late. A long time. I'll have to double check the numbers later.
(7:00 - 7:00, 49 miles)

We were awoken by the VHF. "Gran Vida, Gran Vida this is Sandpiper. We're preparing for departure". That's the thing about a switch in time zone, half the clocks were switched, the others weren't. An eight o'clock departure meant something different to us. Nevertheless, we sprang out of bed, hit the button on the coffee maker, pulled on some clothes and were on the helm in a heart beat, rubbin' sleep out of our eyes.

The rush was about the tows. Danny from Potest Fiery (who is an incredibly early riser) had figured out that there were a bunch of tows right behind us and if we didn't get a groove on, we'd be terribly delayed. Off we went. And we did beat them to the first lock and enjoyed a great day of cruising on the rivers.

But there are always more tows and more locks. The tows and their wares are HUGE and they go by non-stop. This river system is a main artery of American industry, which always, as they should, gives priority to the commercial vehicles. It is 10:30 in the evening and there is another one going by right now and they will go all night. Twenty-four/seven. That's how they roll. It's kind of like trucking, but on the water.

We had three locks today. The first two we sailed by but the last one got us. It was FIVE miles before our dock for the night and as we pulled in we learned there were two tows in front of us and it would be a several hour wait. Harumph. We tooted around for awhile, playing, with Jeff giving me lessons on how to spin the boat in a small space etc., then anchored to wait it out. It actually was a pretty impressive spot, with lots of wildlife to look at. I'm still waiting to see an Asian Carp jump out of the water (this is the invasive fish that the electric barrier is supposed to prevent the spread to the Great Lakes).

The captain of the waiting tow came on the VHF and hailed the lock master, suggesting that we three waiting pleasure craft lock through with him. The lock master acknowledged that he hadn't really noticed us. They worked it out and the tow graciously shared his lock space with us. THANKS, River Eagle!!!

Sandpiper ahead of us in the lock

Five miles later we pulled in to a wee free dock in Ottawa, Illinois with room for about three boats. As we couldn't all fit some of us docked and we rafted off of Potest Fiery. After cocktails on Sandpiper, we had dinner then played cards with Danny from Protest Fiery and I am proud to admit that I won! (very unusual!)