Timeless Yacht

We got underway from Big Bend Marina this morning a few minutes before 0700, set the RPMs for 950, which produced about 9 knots and settled in for the 65+nm down the river.

The day started off well. We called the Peoria Lock one more time to confirm the wicket dam was open so no need to lock. We passed tows as the light reflected off the water, saw so many eagles, passed through a few towns and enjoyed an amazing brunch prepared by Dee.

Debris in the river has increased, but still very manageable.

We haven’t brought Timeless up on plane and to full throttle in a few weeks so in an open, quiet stretch of river with nothing on radar or AIS we opened her up. With the nice push of the current she glided over the water faster then she has ever for us.

The fun of the run on plane was followed up by drying of carpet and mid-cabin head for a few portholes left open. Whoops. It’s just water, right?

After all the excitement, we pulled into the south end of Bar Island a little before 1300, set the anchor and settled in for the evening. 5 more boats arrived, joining us, Air & Sea and Midnight Rambler, then one more.

Football on the big screen, followed by dinner. Dee grilled some beautiful salmon served with rice, spinach, glazed carrots and chocolate cake and root bear floats for dessert.

The evening was topped with a beautiful rising of the waning gibbons moon.

Timeless slid out of our slip at 0800 on the dot, pushed the throttles ALL the way up to 950 rpm 🤣 for an efficient cruising speed averaging 8.7 knots and didn’t touch them until we waited for our shadow, Midnight Rambler catch up at the Peoria Railroad Bridge.

We spot deer, a fox, a couple of tows, some fishermen and a few pleasure boats but fit a Saturday it was a nice day on the river.

We tired up at Kuchie’s on the River just before 1:00p The docks are the nicest, the restaurant isn’t the fanciest but the price is right (free) and the Bloody Marys and shakes are the highlight. Only room for a couple of boats. Probably would try the town dock next time.

We covered over to the Cat Welcome Center and spent the afternoon wandering around the exhibits, playing with the adult toys and even learned a few things. We left a little lighter after the CAT gift shop visit.

Dinner at Kuchie’s finished off another nice day on the Rivers.

Tomorrow we should be starting the day with the Peoria lock but the wicket dam is removed so we’ll cruises right on by down to our anchorage for the night.

After speaking with the Starved Rock Lock crew at 0630, 5 boats departed Heritage Harbor just after 0800 for a slow roll pushed down the river by current to arrive at Starved Rock Lock at 0930.

We set the RPMs at 700 and maintained 7knots. We saw pelicans, so so many eagles, 🦅 large tows and nice homes. It’s a real the scenic section of river with some industry thrown in.

We met up with Catty Shack who who stayed on the Ottawa Free Wall, was tied to a dolphin when we arrived at Starved Rock. Rebecca Asbridge was still slowly locking through but we were able to enter the chamber at 1015 and out at 1040 with boats rafting (Lechuza, and Solstice forward, Midnight Rambler on Timless with Hook and Ladder on Midnight Rambkers outside, with Catty Shack solo in the back). Everyone was efficient in getting set and cruised at similar speeds.

We departed the lock and brought the speed up to about 8.8 knots at 930 rpm getting 1.75nm/g. Record efficiency in a good way. And a good thing considering fuel prices. We arrived at Big Bend Marina in Hennepin at about 1300. The marina got everyone tied up and we got a pump out, decks washed and some provisions.

Then in a first time ever event, Timekess hosted Deck Tales onboard. We usually don’t have visitors onboard when we have guests but it worked out well and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Tomorrow, we’re off to Peoria and the Caterpillar Visitors Cebter.

We dropped lines just a couple of minutes before 0630 in the morning in Joliet, followed closely by Midnight Rambler and Catty Shack. We know we could be delayed for many hours at any one of the 3 locks on the itinerary for today. We snuck under the McDonough Street bridges which opened as we approached (but doesn't open from 7:30a-9:30a) and then we waited for a tow that showed up at Brandon Road...and moved very very slowly in and out. The wind was so calm, we just turned off the mains and floated. We occasionally turned them back on to bump us back to our holding position.

After about 90 minutes we made it through Brandon Rd. Dee served her signature deep dish blueberry French toast with real maple syrup and sausages, plus fruit and berries.

We were gently pushed by more than a knot of current towards Dresden. About an hour out things looked clear, but a tow showed up in the lock a little less than an hour before we arrived so we slowed to arrive a little later. After arriving we waited about 20 minutes and were able to lock through.

At 1230 the river north and south of Marseilles, our last lock of the day, just a couple miles from our destination for the day, looked clear except for Leo C who was southbound in front of us. But they dropped a load and turned back north. A tow showed up in the lock heading south about the time the pleasure craft and looper Favorite Child arrived and were told the wait would be 35 minutes, but we were 30 minutes out. We sped up a bit but they tender informed me they would wait for us.

We arrived at Marseille to doors wide open, waiting like a hug. File this under, sometimes I'd rather be lucky than good. In less than 30 minutes we were heading out of the lock just a couple miles from the end of the day. By 2:20p we had spun around and backed into our slip on the face of A dock at Heritage Harbor.

We finished up the daily chores, got an Instacart order placed, grabbed an early dinner and then joined docktales with about 10 other boats. 5 of us will be heading out in the morning, Starved Rock Lock permitting it should be a quick day on the river to Hennepin.