Ottawa, IL to Peoria, IL

We pulled out of  Heritage Harbor Marina at 7:30 am. We had the green light from the lockmaster at Starved Lock to head down. He had another pleasure craft wanting to lock down as well. This was our only lock of the day.

 Ottawa High School

The Starved Rock Lock and Dam had several work barges.

There was a barge ready to lock up.

Starved Rock National Park

Duck blinds are easily found along this section of the Illinois River.

Looks like a barge ghost fleet.

We made it to Peoria Lake. Our trip meter hit 5,000nm! 

We will be staying in Peoria for the week.

Joliet, IL to Ottawa, IL

Today started out by calling the lockmaster at Brandon Road at 6:30am. The lockmaster gave us the green light to head down river! Andrew and I got underway as quick as possible.  We also locked through the Dresden lock and Dam and the Marseilles Lock. Marseilles was our last lock of the day since Starved Rock Lock and Dam was closed for repairs.

Barge traffic was lighter than what we were expecting.

We stopped in Ottawa for the night and enjoyed their homecoming football game.

Hammond, IN to Joliet, IL

Thursday morning we left Hammond, IN and said our good-byes to Chicago and Lake Michigan. It was a beautiful day to be on the water. We knew this could be a hectic waterway and we were as ready as we could be.

Our first lock was quick and easy.

The canal was so narrow here we had to pull over behind a barge so the northbound barge could continue moving. 

electric fencing area

Our second lock

duck blind

As we rounded the corner for our third lock. We saw this barge sitting on the crib.  We danced for a bit and then headed over to tie off to an available crib.  Two hours later we were through the lock.

Birds hanging out on the crib in front of us.

barge coming out of the lock

Inconceivable on the wall in Joliet.