Captain figured it was a good time to teach the crew the finer points of boat driving...she took to it quite nicely!!! (Notice she's sporting the NEW Columbia Yacht Club t-shirt.)

Pleasant hours of boredom....if a tree falls by the river and there is no body there, does it make a noise??????

We circled, manuevered and waited ever so patiently...for two and a half hours...it felt a little like watching clowns at work at the lock...nothing seemed to go right for them...by the time they were ready to take us, there were three pleasure boats wanting to lock down...so three boats in...then three boats out...through the VERY skinny opening left by the waiting barges and tow boat. His prop wash about sent us into the shore...what a trip...and it continues to get hotter...

As pleasant as the Starved Rock Marina was, the Starved Rock Lock and Dam was just the opposite experience....the approach should have been a clue. A working barge and crane that everyone had said was on the down side was really one the up side. When we tried to call as instructed, no one responded... then the lock master announced that he was already locking a barge up that was too big to fit in one trip. They were in the process of breaking it apart for the first pass...they'd pull those barges out, then we could ride down and maneuver around the waiting barge and tow. It's be at least an hour...Oh, Joy!!!!

And then we saw the Starved Rock...guess there is some big lodge and resort area around somewhere. They claim tourists come to the marina to eat and shop and the boutique...couldn't prove it by us...though we did shop and eat!!!!

Leaving we were reminded why we don't really think of Mayflies as cute decorator items...I don't imagine this boat owner does either...do I need to say the Mayflies were thick and everywhere???

Starved Rock Marina was pleasant on all accounts...nice slip for boat; nice bar and restaurant so no cooking for the captain and crew; and nice little boutique for great shopping. Let's just say we made their rent payment for this month!!!! Heat seems to be increasing so we

were ever so glad for the plug in for AC.