Sept 17-26, 2007 . . . The Illinois River

Two nights at the Harborside Marina just outside Morris, Illinois, then we continued down river . . . meeting barges coming out of the locks. They are as big as they appear!


Our turn to ride down, the gates open, and the barge and tug that went before us was still outside the gate.


As we traveled down the river we saw many houseboats, these were a bit unusual...


Weeks before we started down the river there was too much water, 10' or so above flood stage causing trees to be uprooted and swept to the side of the river. During our travel we found the river to be low. Army Corp of Engineers controls the river levels where they can.


Charlie is as happy as can be! Driving our boat and talking on the radio. He has found many new friends in the tug captains. On each passing a proposal is made to pass on "one whistle" or "two". This passage is on two whistles, passing on our starboard side.


In the Marseilles Lock we were looking at a 40' drop down the Illinois.


Into Hennepin, Illinois; alongside the "towndock" which was a sunken barge. Arrangements had been made to receive fuel from a farm fuel supplier. Soon after arrival the Toedter Oil Truck arrived and almost 300 gallons of fuel were taken aboard. Diesel along the river was running at about $4.00 per gallon at the marinas . . . farm diesel, the same diesel, was delivered for $2.73 a gallon. How sweet it is!!! Dinner was at Ray's Place. Ray is no longer with us. His wife, Pauline, and her twin sister, run the place. They must be in their 80's. We enjoyed the buffet . . . delicious fried chicken, mashed potatoes and thinly sliced beef with gravy, string beans, meatballs and spaghetti, and fried fish.............. there was no room for desert.

Addition and correction: This is a comment, note, a duplication of an entry made February 13, 2008. The February comment is based upon an email received and all is appropriately repeated here.

February 13, 2008: Back in September (Blog entry September 17-26) this photo was posted and there was a report of "farm fuel" and dinner at "Ray's Place." A large part of the joy in this journey has been the people you meet, talk with, and enjoy along the way. While we were at Ray's Place and having a great meal we spoke with . . . well, just let me say that it has been, continues to be, great to hear from so many people along the way; the lives we have touched, that have surely touched us.

This email which was received from Andrea Minyard speaks for itself. Great to hear from her!!

Hello there! My name is Andrea Minyard. I am 29 years old, and I am the Grandaughter of Pauline Marchiori, who owns Ray's Place On the Riverfront in Hennepin, IL. I am the manager of the restaurant and remember your visit to our small town. I was reading your journal and I am pleased to see you included us in your story, along with a fantastic picture of our "dock". There is however a small correction that needs to be made to your story. Pauline (owner) and her sister Shirley are not twins; they are simply sisters. Pauline is the eldest child of 8; (5 girls and 3 boys). Also, neither of them are in their 80's. Pauline just celebrated her 75th (or as she would like you to think, her "57th) birthday, and Shirley is only 72. Shirley is definitely a major contributer to our little restaurant, making our homemade noodles, soups, and pies, but Pauline and I are the ones who actually run the restaurant. Pauline was at the helm for the last 15 years since my grandfather Ray died in '93, and I joined the team as manager in Oct of '06.
Thank you so much for visiting us and I hope you make it back to our little world again.
Sincerely,
Andrea Minyard


On to the town dock at Chillocaohe, Illinois. The restaurant at the dock served only beer, mixed drinks . . . and frozen pizza. We walked to town to a newly opened hot dog place . . . then for our evening event we rode our bikes through the town and stopped at DQ for a little ice cream treat.


We stopped in Peroia, Illinois, at the town dock, for lunch and a walk about town. The dock had NO cleats so we tied up to rails. The docks were built for small boats . . . and there was to be a charge of a dollar or two dollars depending on the length. There was no one there to collect. The downtown area was celebrating Octoberfest. There we met a local boater, a local doctor, Dr. Robert Lizar, who ran a family practice in Peoria, and, he encouraged us to use his slip at the Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY). . . which we did.


As we arrived at the IVY marina a sailing regatta was in full swing from the marina.


Our spot in the IVY marina was in front of the club house. There were a number of other loopers in the marina, GENESIS, STEELE'N TIME, KITTIWAKE, RESTLESS WIND.

The marina manager offered us his truck and went to the Galena Road Baptist Church. After the morning service we joined the small church membership for a delicious meal. The pastor's daughter, Sarah Jeffcoat, asked if she could bring her family down to see us in the afternoon; yes, of course. One of the greatest blessings on this trip, all along the way, has been the small churches we have been able to visit and the warm welcome they have extended to us. Their hospitality has endeared us to them.


We spent a rewarding afternoon with the Jeffcoats. Sarah had to leave early for a friends wedding shower, Jim and his sons, Collin, Taylor, and Drew, visited with us for the afternoon and it was delightful to make new friends and enjoy the interest of three (four) young men. (Photo credit: Jim Jeffcoat)


On down the river from IVY, Peoria, to Havana; Bonnie keeping the sun from her eyes so she can remain in the center of the river. "It's a beautiful thing."


At anchor, Charlie relaxing at the end of another wonderful day. This "wonderful day" shortly after the picture, came to an end. A passing vessel pushed a wake that caused us to ground. We were then able to accept the intentional wake of a passing tug that re-floated SONATA . . . we pulled the anchor and continued down the river to a new location . . . all night travel. Another story in this one is a run-in with the Coast Guard Auxillary . . . a helpful bunch, on this occasion, they were not.


Nearing Hardin, Illinois, the sides of the river are filled with the summery greenery . . . and the beginnings of fall are just coming into view. The calm waters added to the peaceful scene.


Passing again, on two whistles, this picture shows the depth sounder that the barges/tugs, place on the lead barge. This is so that tug . . . at the rear, can see the depth of the water at the front of the usually 9 plus barge group. We continued down the Illinois toward the Mississippi.


Down the Illinois . . . our first view of the white pelican. Almost to the Mississippi.


SONATA logbook, page 150, September 26, 2004, 1200 (noon) SONATA entered the waters of the Mighty Mississippi River; N38-57.870, W090-25.137; having traveled almost 2,500 miles. This was a most exciting moment for us.

Bonnie flies out of St. Louis for work. The trip down the Mississippi, the Ohio, the Tennessee, the Tombigbee Waterway . . . will continue on about October 4th when Bonnie returns.