Joliet, IL, city wall – Seneca, IL Springbrook Marina – Oct 12, 2021
With all the hype of issues staying on the Joliet wall we had none of it. We had 30 amp power which is tucked into the green crisscross doors on the cement pillars. No water available from what we did see. The setting is very nice with tree lined park area. There is a parking lot and what looks to be a city type building. We had tornado warnings for a couple hours where the wind did pick up and a calling for 20 mm of rain in that 2 hour period. However, none of that happened. It just drizzled and rained on and off til around midnight.
We called up the Brandan Lock Lockmaster and asked when he would like us to come through. He said right away so we headed out around 8:00. No waiting at this lock as it was ready for us. Again this lock has a bollard that you loop your line around and it goes down with the water level. Scott stays at the helm while I mid cleat our line and remain on watch. Easiest way to do locks. Thank you Army Corp of Engineers for making this passage so easy.
The Illinois River is a meandering river with a lot of history. The river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi. The French colonial settlements along these rivers formed the heart of the area known as the Illinois Country in the 17th and 18th centuries. After the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and theHennepin Canal in the 19th century, the role of the river as link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi was extended into the era of modern industrial shipping. The Illinois now forms the basis for the Illinois Waterway (Wikipedia)
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River and is approximately 273 miles (439 km) long. Located in the State of Illinois the river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of 28,756.6 square miles (74,479 km2). The drainage basin extends into Wisconsin, Indiana and a very small area of southwestern Michigan. (Wikipedia)
We notice that the colours of fall have not reached this area. Trees are green with very little hint of the autumn blooms yet to come. The winds are picking up as the day warms so the river has become choppy. We have another lock to head through today before we call it an early day at Springbrook Marina in Seneca, IL. The home of Heliopause on her delivery to the US from France.
We did have to wait about 20 minutes for the lock to fill as it was in the empty stage. The lock at Dresden Lock is again a bollard. Easy pass through on our last leg to Springbrook. From here it is about an hour to our destination where we will stay a few days to get some work done that we have been putting off. We know they will have parts if we need any as this is a Prestige Dealership. As we pull in those pesky winds have picked up so Scott used his Captain skills and nestled her in with no issues. It’s only 2:30.
Scott starts on the set up for the work he wants to do. I tidy up and catch up on the blog. Homemade pizza for dinner is prepped.
