Great Loop Day 043 Oct 10, 2016. Big Basin Marina to Ottawa, Illinois
Big Basin Marina to Ottawa, Illinois
“Your children are your rainbows and your grandchildren are your pot of gold.” – Unknown
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Day 43 Monday, Oct 10, 2016. It was so nice to see my daughter and the grandkids yesterday! I’m still smiling this morning.
Happy Thanksgiving Day to all my Canadian friends! What a nice day to be on the river. Off the Des Plains River and on the Illinois River. 38.5 miles today and 2 locks, Dresden Island and Marseille. Both were open for me to waltz right on in and get lowered a total of 50 feet. Getting the hang of these locks and they are quite simple now. Did my first floating bollard drop. Just loop an untied line around this big round thing attached inside the wall and hang on. The bollards lower as the water recedes. Much easier on the hands.
That’s a floating bollard. Travels with the water level and is easy on the hands.
Dropped to the lower level and the lower gates are opening.
Lower gates are fully opened and at the sound of the horn ready to exit under power.
Very light barge traffic today I only passed three barges, and none passed me. Might be due to Columbus day. A few pleasure boats passed, and a number of guys in fishing bass boats worked the shoreline in the light morning mist. No Asian carp going airborne but we know they are in the water. The shoreline was a mixture of industrial barge docks, riverside homes, and RV trailer camps.
People on the river refer to a tug and barge as simply “tows” In tight situations it is customary to call the tug’s captain on the VHF radio and ask what whistle they want us to go. “On the one” refers to port to port like we are doing here. “On the two” we would go on the other side, starboard to starboard.
Every now and then an RV campground would come into view.
Punctuated with industrial operations where barges get loaded or unloaded.
Always glad to see a railroad bridge up.
In the quiet of the morning, a local is trying his luck at fishing.
These guys are working the shoreline.
A few trees are jumping the gun and getting their autumn colors on as the other trees decided they're not ready yet. It was chilly this morning. The heat from the ceramic heater sure does feel good. Hot coffee and hot oatmeal took those chills away.
The standard navigation rule is “Red Right Returning” These cone-shaped “nuns” are always red. The cylinder-shaped “cans” are always green. Returning is always upriver and here we are going downriver so the reverse applies to us.
The miles went fast today. Arrived at Ottawa on the Fox River city dock around 1 pm after leaving Big Basin Marina at 8 am. Decided not to head into town as I was the only boat docked on the free dock and it appeared a little shady under the bridge. Well, it was shady from the sun but unlike Joliet, there were very few people around. I’ll just stick around here on the dock.
Solo Sailor on a solo dock.
A sign on the wall near the dock alerts us to what the city has to offer.
It wasn’t long before I was warmly greeted by an older gentleman welcoming me to Ottawa. Says he comes down every day to greet the boaters and gives me a rundown of what the city of Ottawa has to offer.
A group of grade school-aged kids came by and one asked me if my boat was fast. Poor kid has never been in a sailboat. When you live on a river all you know are powerboats, pontoons, and tugs. He paid the boat a nice compliment and said goodbye. then another middle-aged guy walks up to the bow of the Sea Marie and sat down about 50ft away with his feet dangling over the dock and said nothing, just staring down and throwing a few potato chips in the water. A few minutes later he upped and walked away. Never made eye contact, strange.
An hour later a woman in her 20s her eyes glued to her cell phone in her hand was walking 2 dogs on leashes. One of the dogs was missing a hind leg but kept pace.
Still, I'm the only boat at this dock. It has shore power and I'm hooked up. Mickey was acting a bit strange. When seeing someone at a distance he would jump back in the boat and hide below. That’s not like him to hide when people come by. Now that it's dark he comes out cautiously exploring his surroundings at least as far as his leash will allow.
In the dark I see a spotlight illuminating the bank across from me. That usually means a tug is working its way upriver. A few minutes later a large black mass with a small red bow light in front appears from the darkness. Silently moving slowly under the bridge. I can make out four barges with the tug behind them. Going 2 maybe 3 mph with barely a sound from their powerful engines.
A car pulls up and parks under the bridge about 200 ft from where I'm sitting, the engine and lights are turned off. I hear voices, a teenage female in the back seat and a young couple in front. This could be a local teenage hangout. One in the front lights up a cigarette. I can plainly see the red glowing tip in the dark interior of the car. Then passes it to the female in the back seat. Who then passes it back to the person in the front seat. If I was downwind I could be more certain of the substance they are inhaling. Before I test my hypothesis they start up the engine and leave. No more than 30 seconds later an Ottawa police squad car makes its rounds. Flashes a flashlight around under the bridge while still in his patrol car. Then turns around and returns back on the road behind him.
Que the theme from Happy Days. So goes another night in Ottawa, Illinois.
Tomorrow planning on going 44 miles downriver and who knows what secrets are hiding around the next bend. Fair winds and gentle seas...
Comments: from 2016
Jim Jay Henry, You Are Amazing!!
Henry Krzemien RN Thanks, Jim.
Jacki Liptak, I think we have the making of our own Charles Kuralt here.
Henry Krzemien RNThanks, Jacki.
Bronwen Somerset, Where are you headed now?
Henry Krzemien RN Henry Harbor Marina.
Scott Stanley Sikorski, it’s never too old to learn.
Jane Arreguin Henry, once you go through the Starve Rock locks you will enjoy 76 miles lock-free. Stop at Henry Il.
Sherry Thaler Damn, Henry, missed your chance for a contact buzz...LOL. As always, safe sailing. Angels watching from above.