Cats, Wickets and Cooling Temps

Mike brought Velsignet to a sudden stop (that is, as sudden a stop a boat can make), walked quickly out the salon’s aft door, and as we slowly moved passed the 37’ Catamaran anchored off to the side of the Illinois River, shouted to the vessel’s captain:  “Good morning!  Mel’s Riverfront Restaurant!  Tonight!”  Captain Jeff, MV “Geru,” gave the thumbs-up sign.  With plans in place to enjoy dinner and dockage this evening with Loopers Jeff and Ruth of Ottowa, Canada, Velsignet continued on its way.

We left Peoria, IL yesterday morning and with an estimated 1-mph current, cruised 71 miles down the Illinois River (The Illinois River stretches 338 miles from Chicago, IL to the Mississippi River near St. Louis, MO)  Despite the 20-25 mph wind, last night’s anchorage off of the Illinois River near Sugar Creek Island (not far from Beardstown, IL) was a calm and quiet place for spending the night.  A couple of barges traveling by could be heard at different times, but their passing had little effect for motion or noise.  After waking to the alarm and getting the generator going, the 39-degree morning temperature kept us under the covers until the boat’s heating system warmed the salon.

Our plans for how we are going to experience this last leg of the Loop are changing with the leaves of the season.  Our ship’s logs show us how the night and day temperatures are cooling.  Experience has proven to us that it’ll continue to get colder until we get to Mobile, AL.  With this (and the holidays) in mind, Velsignet is ready to “cross its wake” (meaning, complete the loop) at Pickwick Lake on the Tennessee River and continue its way through Alabama to be in Mobile before Thanksgiving.

Because of rainy and windy weather, we stayed 3 nights on the City Docks of Peoria, IL.  While there, we attended church at the Methodist Church, visited the Caterpillar Visitors Center, and enjoyed the company of Loopers Nancy and Rob (MV "Misty), Ruth and Jeff (MV "Geru") and future Loopers Duane and Melinda (35' Mainship).

The Caterpillar Headquarters was located in Peoria up until 2017, when the headquarters moved closer to Chicago.  More than 12,000 people are still employed in Peoria with the Fortune 100 company.  The Visitor's Center is a museum for people of all ages (really cool simulators for hands-on experiences) that tells the story of competing entrepreneurs Best and Bolt who ultimately started the company.  Caterpillar has grown from farm equipment to heavy duty equipment that serves customers all over the world who are involved in land, sea and space projects.

Inside the Caterpillar Visitors Center was this 1.4 million pound mining truck.  Inside the box was a movie theater where we watched a video explaining more about the evolution of Caterpillar or...as its trademark evolved...Cat.

We shot this photo as we passed the Peoria Lock.  We PASSED by the lock!  Because of the high water level of the Illinois River, the lock is closed and the dam system--which consists of a wicket gate (water flows through the gate-like structure). In high water, the wicket gate can be lowered to allow river traffic to actually cruise over the dam and eliminate the need for vessels to lock through.  

This photo was taken from our anchorage this morning.  From the Sugar Creek canal, we are looking towards the Illinois River.  Beautiful!  and brrrrrr!!!

This is what we looked at from our anchorage into the Sugar Creek canal.  Very calm water made for a good night's rest.

As we cruise the Illinois, the colors of fall are becoming more prominent.  While temps have been more in the 50s and 60s, today we enjoyed a 70-degree partly sunny day.  Note:  We were also in a fairly dead zone for cell phone usage and internet access.  Once we got to Mel's Riverfront Restaurant, we were able to get work done in the comfort of one of their booths...cheap wine (Brenda), Michelob Ultra (Mike---Rob Jacobson, is Mike making you proud?) and deep fried mushrooms for an appetizer!

As we passed the small rivertown of Kampton, we passed by this ferry boat/barge.  Instead of a traditional bridge, a paved road that descends into the river is on either side is met by this ferry barge.