Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Day 418 September 14 100 mi Mel's Illinois Riverdock Restaurant Hardin IL

 42 degrees on the bridge this morning but the sun is coming as we depart at 9:15AM......Satisfaction leaves first and we watch their starboard side, then the Nanseann and we watch our starboard as we pass Blue Willow.
Wonderful fish fry and we thank Randy who cooked and provided the fish.....plus Bob, owner of Tall Timbers Marina.....nice place to visit...
The rest of the Loopers are waiting until Monday or Tuesday to leave as Grafton Harbor Marina is full and there is no space at the inn.....


Tall Timbers Marina tucked back in the Cove
 
 
Robert A Knoke with 15 barges....northbound
 
 
Let's kick it up.....no trash here
 
 
Midland with 12 barges.....northbound
 
 
Just take it slow....narrow stretch....that's a green up ahead
 
 
Concrete Tower....DR Landmark
 
 
Everyone is headed north
 
 
Red House....DR Landmark
 
 
River Edge Boat Club
 
 
Brown water.....tugboats/barges......Asian Carp
 
Bighead Carp were brought from China in the 1970s to clean fish farm holding pens.  They escaped during the floods of the 1980s, and are now the most common fish in the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers.  They can jump up to 15 feet high....and they are quite a sight.....just stay out of our boat.....
 
 
Beardstown Railroad Bridge....19 foot....Open please
 
 
Flood wall hides the downtown view
 
 
 Logsdon Tug Service has space for transients
 
 
Mile 80....LaGrange Lock and Dam with a 10 foot drop
 
 
It is our 8th and final lock on the Illinois River
 
 
Today the Wickets are down due to the high waters
 
 
Tie-up Wall on the starboard side
 
 
Old LaGrange lock
 
 
Meredosia IL
 
 
Commercial stop
 
 
Naples Mile 66 Boat Club
 
 
Not sure they are open for business
 
 
Out on the river at flood stage
 
 
American White Pelicans
 
The Pelicans are fairly common along the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.  For centuries they have migrated along this flyway to and from their nesting areas in the Dakotas and western Minnesota.
 
 
Full house at the Naples Il Boat Club
 
 
Grain and Barge Terminal and they are open for business
 
 
Well they different
 
 
The Norfolk & Western RR Bridge is the Westernmost point of the Great Loop
 
Near Griggsville Landing on the right descending bank at IW 061.4, is a Great Loop landmark.
For boaters who are circumnavigating the eastern United States. this is your westernmost point.  Passing under the Norfolk and Western RR Bridge you are at W090.38.766.  From this point onward you turn southeasterly on the circle of the Great Loop.
 
 
Hard to see the buoys with all the trash
 
 
Big Blue Island....mile 57.5
 
 
This was our anchorage tonight but it is only 2PM
 
 
Florence Highway Bridge at 26 feet
 
The Florence Highway Bridge is known as the Coast-To-Coast Bridge and was a crucial link in historic US Route 36, the 1414-mile east-west highway built in 1926 that ran from Uhrichsville OH to the Rocky Mountain National Park......
 
 
 
River Cabin in Bedford IL
 
 
Timothy C Allen ......northbound
 
 
Dave Anderson...northbound....No southbound today
 
 
Nice setting on the river
 
 
Might be cheap....needs a lot of work
 
 
Kampesville Hollow....quaint setting
 
 
Car Ferry
 
 
Coming into Hardin IL
 
 
We are staying at Mel's Illinois Riverdock Restaurant
 
 
Barges headed north and trash headed south
 
 
Saddi has to cross the steel bridge....hard on her feet
 
 
Dinner at Mel's
 
The village of Hardin revolves around Mel's Illinois Riverdock Restaurant.  It's friendly family restaurant, known for local smoked meats.  Especially its brisket. 
Transients are welcome with a 100-foot dock along the town park.  No electricity....port-0-lets at the boat ramp....and $25 dockage fee.
Docks like this, are scarce along the southern Illinois River....the closest tie-up to the north is over 65 miles away at Logsdon Tug Services barges......
 
We a traveled 100 miles today.  We are seeing more trash at Hardin but the river is at flood stage here.
The Illinois River at Hardin Sunday evening... the stage was 25.6 feet.....Flood stage is 25.0 feet....
Sunday evening at Grafton....the stage was 19.9 feet....Flood stage is 18.0 feet
 
We have a short trip to Grafton tomorrow and the Satisfaction will cross her wake....
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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