Henry, IL Henry’s Marina October 9-10, 2016
So…here we go…After the starboard engine didn’t start again yesterday morning, dad said we can’t keep messing with this issue. We have to get it fixed! Springbrook Marina had a mechanic, Ron that diagnosed the issue in under two minutes…He removed the starboard starter and took it back to the shop. Ron had the office call Tony, a small engine specialist in Ottawa who could rebuild it.
The Service Manager lent us the “Church Van” (his name), to take the starter to Tony. I wasn't invited! HUMPHF!
After dad dropped off the starter, Janet, dad and mom made a Walmart run while our starter was being repaired. They said it was fun to be able to drive through Ottawa, IL. It had a really beautiful centrally located town park. Which might have been the site of the first debate between Frederick Douglas and Abraham Lincoln for State Senator??? Ottawa was also the burial place for William D. Boyce, founder of the Boy Scouts of America. There is a burial statue at his gravesite by the river, but mom didn’t get a photo so she copied an image of it for me.
Came back in an hour to a replaced cellinoid on the starter. Drove it back to Ron at Springbrook and in under 15 minutes he had it reinstalled and running! Awesome!!! Even the cost was reasonable!!!
We left today in brisk weather, about 45 degrees… Definitely need to get south fast! I’m cold!!!
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Mist on the River and Marina this Morning
Shows you how bundled up we were this morning! |
Dad talking to a former Marine turned lock keeper
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| The other lock keeper was a Navy Chief |
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| Salt Lick framed by some of the turning leaves as she hangs in the dock opposite us |
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| Trying to give you a sense of the size of these locks |
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| Carved Rock State Park, IL outside of the our second lock today |
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| The Park had an observation building here beside the lock but outside the boundaries |
These barges are definitely intimidating but these captains are just superb!
It was a lovely day and we only had two locks with not too big of wait for either …saw more flocks of white pelicans, lots of various industries mixed with massive barges, fishermen in their boats, lakes, levies, a couple of marinas and lots of spectacular trees just beginning to turn.
Lots of lovely white pelicans along the Illinois River
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| Having a gabfest probably about the one by itself? |
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| More industry and reflections...a favorite of mine |
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| Beautiful waterfront park by Ottawa, IL |
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| The other side of Ottawa riverfront |
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| It was filled with sculptures |
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| And of course fishermen |
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| More monumental sculpture |
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| Here is a good example of high tight some of these bridges are for these big barges |
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| Needless to say we are waiting for him to get through |
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| Lily and I up on the bow taking up close photos |
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| We have found these captains to be very nice and helpful; especially, if you call them by their vessel name |
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| Lily and I photographing...my kind of selfie!!! |
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| Carved Rock State Park by our second lock of the day |
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| Peru, IL...blink and you miss it! |
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| One more Peru, IL building... |
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| People picnicking in this idllic setting which is mostly what we are seeing along here |
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| Lily giving me the LOOK..."Are you coming down or staying up???" |
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| A small boat club along the Illinois River |
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| The River is so wide it's hard to believe at times... |
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| Not sure what this is??? |
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| Henry's Marina Behind the Broken Old Lock Wall |
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| Henry's Entrance with Strong Currents |
As we were trying to dock at Henry’s, we finally saw the Asian Carp jumping up! They are lively and I can see how problematic they would be in small boat!!!
Our dock situation is less than ideal, we are on Henry’s tiny fueling dock with no power or electric but we are off the river, so we are fine. (Just had a couple of drunk fishermen pull up for fuel...an interesting experience that we haven't had before but they all made it work!)
Having looked ahead at restaurant reviews, mom and dad decided to cook on board. Janet and Hank have Cincinnati friends visiting…so it works out perfectly! Tonight we may have to run our generator so its a bit warmer on the boat when we wake up than it was this morning! BRRRR!!! Off tomorrow for Havana, IL not Cuba...maybe next year?
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| As we were getting ready to eat dinner all these white ducks came in to roost for the night beside us |
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| Quite a mix of ducks for the night |
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| Sunset on our part of the river |
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| Our sunrise this morning...we just don't get tired of them!!! |
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| Another view |
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