Q's End: Licence to Travel: Grafton IL

(Wednesday Sept 5 - Dist: 87.9 mi; Avg Speed: 9.7 mph;
Locks: 1; LWT: 0 mins; TTT: 9:15 hrs)

It did not take us long to grab a cooler and head for the pool; refreshing after the long, wet, cold then hot day. While relaxing on Headquarters a soon to be Looper joined us to find out how the Loop was going. Evidently, he is starting the Loop in early October.

Our new friend John from Kansas City, on the boat Satisfaction, suggested while he was here with his car that he take us up the hill to the Aeries Winery. Wow. Not only were the views spectacular but the personal pizzas were very good; all made from scratch. Then after being dropped off we decided to check out the music and hilarity at Castaways Bar right behind the marina. The people are so friendly down here that we had a few drinks with this couple who turned out to be the owners of the winery and other properties in the area including a new Zip Line. Well we got along so well that they invited us to go “Rangering” after dark the next night. Yeah we had no idea either.

Following a trip to the Walmart Supercenter and some more fun at the pool we called our new friends and he picked us up in a Polaris Ranger ATV (All Terrain Vehicle). Up the hill we went and after another fine dinner at the winery we set off; off road that is. The Zip Line staff were determining if it was feasible and desirable to do after dark zip lining. Well it did look impressive with the lights on the helmets and people whizzing through the trees. We followed them down, all nine sections worth and then back to the winery for more supplies. My cooler held up but the owners are in a league by themselves and thus the restocking. With fresh supplies we headed out again into some rougher terrain and after going through a dried creek bed to avoid a locked gate we arrived at their condo. A quick tour, a fresh refill and down we went to town for a couple of nightcaps at one of the local establishments; one that I hadn’t been to yet although I must admit details are fuzzy from this point on. Wow, what a night.

The promised storm arrived while we were in the pool on Friday so we moved under cover and never missed a beat. We agreed that a Barbie and a more sedate evening was in order after are first two nights. Saturday was festival day; actually “Rockin’ on the River” day… Parties and live bands all over town.

We managed to take in 3 or 4 of them including a wine and food festival. Despite our best efforts we were well short of some of the other party goers. “C” Dock apparently did not quiet down until just before dawn. I had no trouble passin../// sleeping.

The best band however was at the biker bar the next afternoon, Sunday. Us and Headquarters decided to go to for an early lunch to the Wild Goose and ran into a fairly crusty barmaid. We think it was all show but I am not certain. It was then on the way back at the Hawg Pit, the biker bar, that we heard the band.

The place was packed with all of the neatest bikes and couples imaginable. We planned to stay for one beer but only left before the last set at 5 PM so that we could meet up with The Last Resort who we originally met in the Bahamas and periodically up the east coast.

We had planned to try the ribs right from the first day so we gathered up a bunch of Loopers, 12 in all, and went back to the Hawg Pit for a very good dinner of ribs. We were sitting on picnic tables, no tablecloths and a plastic fork but oh were the ribs so good. We decided to take it easy Monday and Tuesday in preparation for the trip down the Mississippi. I injured my knee somewhere over the previous few days so my mobility was limited: to the pool, to the Happy Hour and then to dinner.