Anyone taking a yacht up to the Great Lakes this season; plans? route?

Slight change in plan for us. I’m still driving to Polestar tomorrow, but Dave has them scheduled to remove the arch Tuesday morning. Hopefully that will be quick and painless, and we’ll still make the Do Barge Inn by sunset.

The river in Peoria won’t open until the level falls below 25.5. That’s predicted to happen by Wednesday, but that gets back into the educated guessing thing again.

As far as commercial traffic, it’s hard to say, but locks will generally work pleasure craft in after three commercial lockages. If you’re not there when that happens, you’re SOL. I’ll call Starved Rock before we even think about casting off lines in Peoria. I’ll turn on the good ole boy and... beg.

And they may turn on the good ole boy and tell you to stay where you are for an extra day. Normally they work in pleasure craft but they may not if their backup is too big.

My tow buddy confirmed the 3 and 1 is still in effect. If they hold us a day, we’ll just deal with it.

Hard to say it's in effect when they're shut down. Seems like nothing is in effect. Hopefully it will be.

From my tow buddy just now.

Captain of the Port has opened the safety zone in Peoria. I am underway northbound now. Said pleasure craft is discouraged due to debris but I am not seeing alot. Fleets will start de-drifting their fleets which will cause alot more drift to come down but as the river levels fall, the debris will break up and start hanging up in eddys and the tree lines

It might be interesting for you to watch the drift. If it midstream the river stage is falling. If it is spread out it is rising. Old tow boat operator knowledge. The reason it runs in the middle when falling is because that is the lowest elevation. The water would not leave the flat farm fields unless there is a lower elevation.

I just made it to the boat after a burger at The Boat House. We’re docked right beside you.

I noticed your boat was listing, so I drained one of those big barrels on the deck. She’s fine now.

Bummer! Was hoping maybe to meet up at some point on the Illinois. Starved Rock is open, so the next three days will be interesting.

We’re still unsure of exactly what’s going to happen in terms of Dave jumping ship, but that’ll be determined with how much progress we can make in the next few days.

Made it to Starved Rock with zero delay, but the dang lock doors are broken. Got them working long enough to get us in the chamber, but now they won’t close. You’ve gotta love it!

Well, the rest of the story should be interesting.

We are now literally trapped inside this lock! LOL

Well, make yourselves comfortable. Relax. Shouldn't be windy inside, protected by large walls. Hopefully, they'll warn you before starting you up. How many boats inside?

Just us and a small, USACE surveying boat. FINALLY got the thing fixed, and we were reasonably fortunate at Mersailles only having to wait on one southbound double. Will be in Spring Brook shortly and address the arch tomorrow morning. Hopefully that doesn’t lead to more “excitement”.

Hope everything goes good for you today. When you get under the RR bridge,
please lass along the clearance.

Got the arch down this morning with zero damage. Late start with that, then a major delay at Dresden Lock. Long story, but it was “exciting” entering and especially exiting the lock.

It’s so windy that a tow couldn’t get his second set of barges into the chamber after leaving his first set below the lock on the wall. Watched another 40’ish cruiser almost destroy the port side of his boat when exiting. He wasn’t prepared for the wind and current, and it was literally inches away from being VERY ugly. Speed is your friend in those conditions, and I expected him to have issues when I saw how slowly he entered the lock. I just held back and watched the show.

Called it a day at Harborside Marina and hoping for better lock luck tomorrow.

Sounds like you're happy to not be running solo.

Had to do a quick trip the past few days. Left Hartford(BDL) this morning to connect in ORD back to (SRQ). Coming across the lake I was amazed at all the empty slips in the Chicago harbors ,NOT one boat.! if it wasn't green outside one would think it's January. On the arrival back in SRQ, the sandbar was packed, boats all over the gulf & Sarasota Bay. What a difference!!

Randy I was looking for Dave & you flying over the Lockport/Joliet area. Hope everything went better today.