We departed Burnham Harbor on a Sunday. We were pleased to discover there was minimum commercial traffic on the typically VERY busy Chicago Shipping Channel.
This fixed bridge is a good example of why we lowered our mast on Spiritus.
Making the height clearance was marginal even without her mast up!
The ship channel gets quite narrow in places where the barges park their loads.
We were warned that the electric fish barrier is ahead. Swimming wasn't on our day's agenda!
Three other Looper boats joined us in our first Illinois lock, along with a tow pushing 3 singles.
We traveled with these Loopers for the next week.
Spiritus is underway and the Captain is wondering if there's enough space to squeeze past these parked loads!
The Captain is anticipating the uncomfortable prop wash that comes with this passing tow!
After a 10 hour cruise day, we were thrilled to stop in Joliet, Illinois and gather for docktails with our buddy crews from Long Story, Destination, and Chip Ahoy.
Next stop with our boating buddies was Spring Brook Marina. The buddy boats are bonding . . . .
. . . . and the Captains are comparing the size of their grilled meat!!!
After departing Spring Brook Marina, we waited our turn to enter the lock. Commercial traffic always has priority over pleasure craft. We had about a 2 hour wait for a 3 x 5 load!
Spiritus and Long Story, both Grand Banks, rafted side-by-side for our ride down this lock.
"Mastering" docktails with our boating buddies at Heritage Harbor in Ottawa Illinois for 4 days.
We even enjoyed live entertainment at the marina tiki bar during docktails!
The charming town of Ottawa features many murals painted on the sides of historic buildings.
One of the highlights in Ottawa was visiting the Scout Museum! Eddy and Linda have good memories of their scouting days. Eddy especially loved his camp-outs in the Philipines.
Can you believe Linda still has her Girl Scout sash with all her badges?!
Yes, the 1950's marked a fabulous decade . . . . the birth of some special folks we know!
On August 21, 1958, the first of many famous debates between Lincoln and Douglas was held here at Washington Square in Ottawa, Illinois.
After walking all over downtown Ottawa, we stopped at this awesome microbrewery, Tangled Roots.
It was super cool running into Loopers, Karen & Scott, on Last Call.
We crossed the Gulf of Mexico with them 2 years ago!
After departing Heritage Harbor, we cruised toward the next lock and had to wait our turn.
We tied to a dolphin with Herb Seaton, on Phantom, and enjoyed coffee and conversation while we waited for the barge to lock through.
After waiting patiently, we got through the lock.
Chip Ahoy, pictured here off our starboard bow, actually rafted up next to us during our lock ride.
Waiting our turn at the next lock, Chip Ahoy and Spiritus decided to tie to a barge and hang out!
Chip Ahoy is at our stern, passing the tow that Spiritus just met on the one whistle!
Peoria's skyline provided an urban change of scenery.
We chose this peaceful anchorage at Quiver Island while Chip Ahoy went to Tall Timbers Marina.
After we weighed anchor the next morning, the First Mate didn't waste any time getting her coffee!
Spiritus is getting really good at sharing the Illinois River with the barges!
A glove-clad Captain was prepared to toss uninvited Asian Carp overboard if they jumped into Spiritus.
On our first Loop we had 16 uninvited carp; this time we had NONE!! YAY!!
The First Mate chose helm duties over picking up nasty, uninvited carp!
Our last night on the Illinois River, we anchored at Buckhorn Island with Chip Ahoy.
Chef Eddy grilled us delicious pork chops during sun set!
We were delighted to arrive at Grafton Marina just as their famous steamship passed by.
The marina has a pool that provided a gathering place for daily docktails.
This is where some of our favorite Loopers in our class of 2013 crossed their wake!
Enjoying docktails with current Loopers, Gold Loopers, and Loopers-to-be!
Resident Loopers Larry & Cindy Kriesler were angels for the 10 days we were at Grafton Marina! They got Linda to the airport for her flight to visit her mother while Eddy had a new radar installed and did boat maintenance.
After Linda returned from Las Vegas, Cindy cooked a delicious lasagna dinner for us in their lovely home.
Larry used his magic tools to help Eddy mount Linda's dad's brass ship bell to Spiritus.
It was presented to her father (Col. Pennington) in 1973 when he was Commander in Taipei, Taiwan.
Next stop: Alton, Illinois, home of the TALLEST, most gentle man in the world.
Robert Wadlow was 5'6" tall at age five; 6'5" tall by age ten and weighed over 200 pounds.
Upon his death, Robert was 8'11.1" tall and weighed 490 pounds.
This chair (bronzed) was specially made for Robert and used in his home until his death.
We departed Alton Marina at sunrise and started our cruise down the mighty Mississippi.
It was an iconic moment as we cruised toward the Gateway Arch in St Louis!
Our buddy boat snapped a picture of Spiritus as we cruised past the Arch. A favorite memory!
St Louis is a fascinating city to view from the water's edge.
