Good morning Cruisers!!  Did you get your rest in?  You better have.  We are planning on a 88 mile day today.  An early morning castoff in hopes of not waiting too long at the LaGrange Lock.  Down to the end of  the Illinois River and the beginning of the Mississippi River.  It is a cloudy humid morning.  We are hoping to beat the weather southward.  Let’s get going!!

As we are leaving the red barge, do you see the grey top barges?  No?  We didn’t either!!  They came during the night and pulled them from in front of our boats.  We did NOT feel, hear, or see anything during the night.  Fascinating!!

Leaving Logsdon Tug Service

Ok…the funny thing is later in the day, a fellow Looper complained about the huge barge at midnight that rocked them at their anchorage.  Could it have been the ones from in front of us??  hahaha  could have been.  Timing is curious!!

Sunrise as we are leaving Beardstown, IL

We had to wait almost tow hours after we got to the LaGrange lock.  They were busy locking through a tow.  Commerce first, remember.  Pleasure craft have the lowest priorities.  We are locking down 10 feet.  It still looks a bit windy, doesn’t it?  By the time the lock was available, there were 4 other Loopers that had met us at the lock.

Approaching the LaGrange Lock.

As we were waiting to lock through, I notices several flocks of white pelicans heading south.  Wonder what they know?  Beautiful V shaped flights.

This is the non-industrial view of the Illinois River.

Wing Island

Park and boat ramp

Kampsville Car Ferry – see the line of cars waiting.

Wayne called these “Tree Houses!”

We saw many duck blinds.  Some like this one looked in pretty good shape.  Others were damaged and needed repair.  Can the ducks really not suspect a square box in the middle of the river as being curious?

Duck blinds along the Illinois River

Brussels Car Ferry – Liberty Belle

Finally, after a 10 hour day, we got to Grafton Marina.  A beautiful sight to behold!!  We were put on the end of a T-Dock.  We met one barge going north, encountered 1 lock, and traveled with several other Loopers all going to Grafton for the night.  Great traveling with others on a long, sunny, and windy day.

Exhausted, we ate a light meal and went to bed!!  Rain is expected during the night.

Sunset at Grafton, IL