Arrived at Kaskaskia lock and dam right on schedule...it is as beautiful and serene as we remembered...water is high...lockmaster gives us permission to tie up and even says it’d be okay to let Dakota run the wall ...and do his business as long as we pick up. It’s hot...though not as bad as it could/should be this time of year. High 80s when it could be in the 100s. For that, we are extremely thankful because there will be no air conditioning tonight. We are safely off the Mississippi....but this is not a marina. After several unsuccessful attempts to get our sweet boy to ....we relent and drop the dinghy to take him to shore. There’s a little camping area...not in use because of recent high water...so he runs and finds relief...we’re thinking that facing a long day tomorrow just got longer because now we’ll need to bring him ashore before heading out. Oh, joy! Sunset is delightful...and we’ve got leftovers... and one hellish day ahead! We got this!! In the home stretch...heading into the final turn!!