Day 1 (Oct. 11, 2023)
We had checked the weather for days to find that weather window for traveling after all of our delays. October 11! All sites said 1-3 footers and 5-10 knots of wind. It would be cold but we were zippered inside the enclosure. Kim couldn't sleep. He wakes up at 1:30 am and says let's go. In the pitch black we left Anchorage Marina for the next year. It was dead calm in the bay but as we tried to find our way out of the Holland Channel, we could feel the waves. Slight build at first and then we turned left to head towards Hammond, IN. Within a short period of time, we knew that the waves were more like 3-5's. And the Coast Guard confirmed it over the VHF radio. Small craft warnings and 3-5 footers with 15-20 knot winds. Not what we planned on but we prevailed. The sun rose at around 7:30 am. We now could see what the lake was doing around us and we started warming up. 7 hours we rocked and rolled until the waves started settling down. And as life seems to go with us, the last 4 hours we slowly motored in the sun and tied up in Hammond Marina.
Fellow "Loopers" caught our lines and helped us tie up. And that is when we discovered that we would soon be known as "Virgin Loopers".
Day 2
Spent the day working on this website, taking a long walk on a nearby trail and attending a flotilla meeting.
Day 3
Boat cards. Who knew that this was a thing! Great idea so you can keep track of all the loopers you meet along the way. Amazon even has fancy books to keep them in.
A sad event brings blessings
Who would have known that Dad (Grandpa) Grotenhuis would bring our family together (missing John, Naya and Alice) as he passed on. Spent a week home to be with extended family and our immediate family. Was able to see our kids before we take off on our big adventure.
Day 4 (October 19, 2023)
We are ready! Let the fun begin. Tomorrow we are off to Joliet Free Wall to stage before we go through the 3 main locks. Oh, Looper flags are a thing!
Day 5-Joliet Wall
Long day! 48 bridges 2 locks and tied up on a wall in Joliet. There are 16 boats in our flotilla. We traveled 8 1/2 hours dodging barges, logs in the water, experiencing a lock that dropped us 40' and we had a blast! Meeting new friends and learning to be patient with each other as we go through this new learning curve.
First raised bridge entering the Cal Sag.
Day 6
What a day! Up at 6:30 am and lines off. 16 boats living Joliet to head into our first lock, Brandon Road Lock. 34' feet drop. The lock masters were amazing. I was so nervous and they assured me that I'd be fine. You hold a line at the bow of the boat and Kim held one in the stern as you slowly go down with the water. 2 hours later you are at the Dresden Lock and this one drops you only 20'. We had to raft off others in this lock. Much easier! Hours later, dodging tugs with barges, some 3 wide 3 deep, we were at the last lock of the day, Marseilles Lock. The challenge was to avoid the huge barge coming out of the lock. We waited two hours only to find out that the barge would be tied to the lock wall so all 16 of us could enter the lock and then get out of the way. with that accomplished, we were able to tie up in Heritage Harbor by 4:00 pm. The marina held a meeting to let us know what was ahead of us, the local witches held a witches coming out dance and then dinner. Couldn't get to bed fast enough!
Barges are HUGE!
YIKES! We did turn off all electronics just to be safe.
Barges are big and scary as they pass you! You have to stay out of their wake.
Day 7 (Oct. 22)
What a calm day we had today. Left Heritage Harbor at sunrise and cruised at 7 knots to Henry Harbor. One lock this morning and tied up by 4:00. This harbor is a lock built in the late 1800's. First lock on the Illinois River. Just a little history for those of us that love history!
Day 8-Peoria, Il
Barge passing by. 5 barges long and 3 wide. WOW!!!
Short day today. 4 hours to Peoria from Henry Harbor. Pretty uneventful.
First anchorage of the trip. Now, will we trust our anchor and get a good night sleep?
Day 9
Spent the day dodging huge barges on a windy Illinois River, doing one lock with an 8 foot drop, tying up to a barge for the night, dinner out with loopers and bed. It was a 11 hour day and we have another one tomorrow to get to Grafton Marina.
Day 10
Another long day on the Illinois. So many barges to dodge. Now we are encountering boat captains moving boats and we need to stay out of their way. Arrived in Grafton Marina before sunset and will settle in for 4 days. We are ready for no alarms and getting time on land.
Day 11-Grafton Marina
Grocery shopping
Cold front came through. 80 degrees then dropped to 60 degrees!
Kim is in heaven!
Tracking our journey.
Day 13-Oct. 28
Saturday in Grafton. We leave for Alton tomorrow morning. It has been a nice break. Went to a flea market this morning and then on to the Grafton Winery for wine tasting. Cold and rainy.
