Champ III: Going Places

The adventure starts here.

Tall Timbers Marina, Havana, IL to Big Blue Island South of Beards Town IL — September 29, 2013

(NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED BUT THIS POST WAS IN THE DRAFT SECTION AND NOT THE POSTED SECTION. IT IS A LITTLE OLD BUT STILL APPROPRIATE.)

We had a lot of rain yesterday afternoon and in the evening.  We went to dinner with 3 other Looper boats at Tall Timbers.  Nice mix of people and the food was pretty good at Grampa’s Restaurant in Havana.  When we were going to start back to the marina it was raining really good and only a couple of us brought rain jackets to ward off the rain (it did not work).  The Owner of Grampa’s was nice enough to give us a ride back to the marina, approximately 8 blocks.

This morning was nice although a little cool at about 45 degrees.  We got started at about 8:30 and headed south on the river.  I call the next lock when we were about 3 miles away and he told us to call back when we arrived.  When we did get there he had a tow in the lock and we waited about 45 minutes for the tow to finish the lock and have them refill it for us.  While we were waiting we were joined by Once Upon a Time and Aerin E, two of the Looper boats we met at Tall Timbers.

We did pass a dredge operation on the Illinois.  It was interesting that the dredge company was from Manistee Michigan. A long way from home.  They had the channel blocked but we called them and they directed us around the outside.  The water was deep enough for us to get thru.

We moved along and traded radio messages between boats about an anchorage for the night.  I had checked with Bob, the Owner of Tall Timbers, and his recommendation was at an Island called Big Blue, the upstream end.  It had plenty of water and we were probably 100′ out of the channel.  Once Upon A Time and Champ III anchored at the upstream end and Aerin E anchored at the down stream end.

Candy like Big Blue Island for her walks.  I had her off lease but well supervised so we did not have her disappearing into the under brush.  The shore of the island was nice firm sand with lots of sea shells.  A lot different than the Mississippi mud we are not looking forward to.

Brent and Susan from Once Upon A Time came over for desert and cocktails after dinner.  A good time was had by all before we decided to call it a day.