Under Attack Again - Peoria IL

(Wednesday Aug 29 - Dist: 74.3 mi; Avg Speed: 9.7 mph;
        Locks: 1; LWT: 40 mins; TTT: 7:50 hrs)

This is our worst encounter with the Asian Carp.  As you can see we just passed two up bound tows and I guess the fish objected.  We were hit at least 7 times.  The slime and sometimes blood is left behind.  Periodically, throughout the trip we could hear and feel the fish hit the boat.  Here at the Illinois Valley Yacht (IVY) Club they are plentiful in the harbor and often jump onto the dock scaring the bejeezes out of us, well Linda anyway.

The Club is quite nice with an excellent pool and bar.  We will be staying here until after Labour Day.  We are taking another vacation... and waiting until Isaac passes and the rivers clear of debris and small pleasure crafters.  That is not my term but what the tow captains call all non commercial boaters: Pleasure Crafters.

We were very fortunate on this travel day.  When we arrived at the sole lock (Starved Rock) for the day, there was a tow directly in front of us.  We were told we would have to wait until "Sugarland" cleared the lock and then they would see.  That was not good because I knew that there was another down bound tow only a few miles behind.  That was when luck struck.  Sugarland's head office told him to stay put and not move until further notice.  He was just about to enter the lock but backed off to the holding area and that is when we were invited into the lock.  Many hours were saved by an executive in New Orleans were Sugarland was headed.  We later heard that he was to take his load to somewhere else further north so he had to turn around.

The River is changing, becoming a lot more scenic and with more birds.  Above are thousands of American White Pelicans.  They are prettier than their brown cousins that we see in Florida.  This next photo may be starved rock after which the lock and dam are named but I am only guessing.  It is a much better view than the industry of a few days ago.

With the low water levels dredging is a common sight.  This dredge was working on the narrow channel just before the lock.  The US Army Corps of Engineers manages these waters and this is one of their units.

There will, I am sure, be more photos and info from the IVY Club but I just wanted to get out a quick note so that people would know where we are spending the Holiday Weekend.  Please enjoy yours.

Well I did say that the River is becoming more scenic.  This bone yard is near Upper Peoria Lake at Hamms Marina.  Oh well.