Feel like I've been trapped in a whirlwind for the last few days.... We finished the loop and pulled into Polestar...where my pleas for shade and being close to laundry were met with staunch resistance. It was hot hotter hottest on that long wall...gravel and asphalt every where...not good for puppy paws... so plans were made!

I rented a car...Dakota got groomed...Floyd did serious grocery shopping! Workers showed up and started those boat projects...and I headed back to Kansas. We think this is a pretty smart move..once projects are completed, Floyd and Dakota will move the boat to Grafton where they will have shade(!!!), grass, pool, laundry and restaurant ....slip rental is much cheaper in Grafton than in Chicago (which was my original planned point of departure)....plus we are thinking river traffic will ramp up over Fourth of July week...so why fight it?? For now, I'm planning to return on Thursday, June 30th...spend the weekend hanging in Grafton...then we'll head north on the 5th..

Things have worked well so far!! After several miscues, I finally got out of St Charles and arrived safe and sound at Mom's...after she finishes her bridge session this afternoon, we'll head to Wichita. We plan to camp at my daughter's to maximize time with those little ones...and my list of things to accomplish just keeps getting longer! Major issue is for me to find suitable attire for that September wedding...mother of the groom is probably least important. In the whole wedding party..but requires some new items!! And I'll sleep better knowing it is under control!!

Boat projects were completed...and Floyd and Dakota somehow managed to get to Grafton yesterday without my assistance (there goes my job security...I've been temporarily outsourced)....Floyd announced that laundry was done...so now I'm a bit worried about him staying out of trouble...but he assures me that without my influence he'll be just fine!!

Sunday..June 19...

Without shades, that sun comes up and wakes you pretty darn early...dog ashore...anchor up...we are underway before 6.... It's much cooler then...and today is gonna be another hot one. We thought we'd escape the heat of the Midwest ...HA!! That didn't work so well.

In an almost magical moment, we passed a tow pushing 15 barges...WAYNE P. LAGRANGE... The same tow we had encountered in 2011 as we headed from Polestar to Green Turtle Bay....he was behind us most of that day and was quite chatty...we pulled off to anchor for the night ...then the next morning as we pulled back into the Mississippi channel, there he was again...loaded and heading the other direction. His comment then was, " didn't think you'd ever get up"... Obviously he'd been busy...anyway, today's Captain was just as chatty...and ,of course , had no recall of that incident...very well was a different Captain....but Floyd and I were amazed that on the day we would "close our loop" , we would encounter him again....gave me goosebumps!!

It's Sunday...and Father's Day...lots of boats on the water....the last four miles on the Illinois River and the turn up the Mississippi was almost as rocky rolly as NYC harbor. Boaters, jet skis, tows, ferry and fisherman...seems all area dads had but one request for the day...be on the boat!!!

1:45 PM....on that rocky rolly Mississippi...someone ventured out to the fore deck... Straddled the bow pulpit and anchor to install our new platinum looper flag....we didn't have our crew/photographer this time...and Internet coverage here is just a step above crappy...so photos are few....maybe later....but glory hallelujah WHAT A TRIP!!  And that platinum flag is georgeous ....you sure don't see many of those. We know lots of loopers and wanna-be loopers....and several gold loopers (folks who've actually finished a loop). Floyd and I have only met three platinum loopers...folks who've finished more than one loop.... Anyway...TUMBLEWEED has been great to us...and we've certainly enjoyed this lifestyle...we look forward to more fun time cruising....more about all that later...

For now, we have made a couple of grand decisions...slip rental is cheaper here than in Chicago...and I have the itch to get home....so Floyd and Dakota will stay in St Charles (really close to St. Louis) to supervise those boat repairs and do a few maintainance chores... I'm renting a car and headed home to check on Mom and play with grand kids. Oh, and find something suitable to wear to that September Wedding....

All  those worries for naught!!  Saturday June 18....Floyd was up and called the Lagrange lock at 4AM... And wonder of wonders, they answered...were most helpful and friendly ...yes, there's a great anchorage with sandy beach just a mile down stream. So Dakota and I slept in...and quick walk to the Dollar General  for bread and a few groceries...we left Tall Timbers right on schedule....and hot four hour ride to that lock. Guess what?? It was open...wickets down...we drove right through...and sure enough, about a mi let down stream , just off the channel was a little beach. We had no trouble setting anchor...dinghy worked just like it should and Dakota worked just like he should. A couple of tows went by and assured us that we'd be fine anchoring there. Leftovers for supper ...and we were done in. We did fire up the generator and run air conditioners to cool things off a bit. But it was windows open and fans spinning. It was warm but certainly not uncomfortable. If any other tows went by in the night, you couldn't prove it by us, we slept like rocks! We knew Mother Nature would wake us early...and we had 80 miles to get to Grafton...then turn up the Mississippi a couple of miles to reach Polestar Marina. It's gonna be the best Father's Day ....we'll finish this loop!

IVY to Tall Timbers...Friday, June 17...

Left around 7 AM... First and only lock today was ten miles out....waited two hours for our lock down! What the Heck?? It was only a three foot drop...took them forever to move folks through! We made great time after that....river current is pushing so we got an extra couple of MPH...we thought we be at Havana around 3 and we got here at 1:30... Even with that delay! It's a quaint little marina...Floyd and I opted to have a quick cheeseburger and beer ...then Dakota and I walked to town...seems someone (me) forgot to bring birthday cards...and young son number one is having one of those. So up hill...both ways...to get a card in the mail but he is worth it! A Small group of boaters from Peoria pulled in around 2:30....very nice. Of course, they fell in love with Dakota...so we were up past our bedtime chatting with them. (No drinking was involved...right??) we are all drinkers with a boating problem.

We are worried about the next 120 miles to a marina at Grafton...one lock...no marinas...and we are struggling to find a place to anchor where we can get Dakota to shore....and you know, dog's gotta do their business!! We don't think we can make Grafton in one day....but the thought is we should try...the key to us making it before dark is the lock. Say prayers!! We depart at 5ish....

The other fear is the trip back...120 miles with current helping vs 120 against a current...Floyd is thinking we may have to board the dog at a kennel and rent a car to retrieve him after we get back to Havana....geesh! We've got all sort of boater friends who have made the trip...we have asked for suggestions...we'll see!!

Starved Rock to Peoria...Illinois Valley Yacht Club
June 16
Left at o' dark thirty...no gas or pump out...weather is getting warmer than warm...and this waiting for locks makes us more than a little nervous. First and only lock was within the first mile...and no barges in sight...so minimal wait but even though we called ahead, they weren't exactly ready for us. Next 5 hours were nothing to shout about...pulled into the IVY club...and who was sitting there??? Our new looper friends, Kurt and Jim....and what a great stop!! Gas, pump out, pool, restaurant and dog beach!! Dakota had a blast running on that shady "unkept" beach...but what a mess he was! Wet and full of sand! We cleaned him up with a power rinse and then headed to the pool for a little cool off ourselves. Supper at the restaurant with the boys...(Sorry, Becky Bauman, dollar tacos are on Tuesday night ) ....a little meet and greet of Yacht club folks. Tomorrow is another travel day...and it is hot! We seem to be traveling with the wind...so not even that to help! Thank god for shade!

Harbor Side to Starved Rock...
AND THE RAINS CAME...we had it all yesterday...cool and cloudy...sunny and hot...sprinkles..we kept a close eye on radar. Big storms kept missing where we were....but last night it let loose. How Floyd slept though all that I don't know.  In the middle of the night...bright lightning, loud thunder and pouring rain. Blew open our hatch doors and filled the small aft deck trash with water. Didn't last long but dumped a lot of water.  But did it cool things off??? NO!!!

Forty miles today and 2 locks. We started less than a mile from lock #4...didn't wait long as no barges were around. Hopeful that we could just zip though the rest of the day...almost.  Lock 5 had a tow and barges coming up...that were broken apart...so we waited about an hour for them to finish their lift and get reassembled. Another hour and we arrived at Starved Rock marina just as they were closing (What marina closes at 4 o'clock???) ...so we are parked at the gas dock...with the promise that workers will arrive at 730 AM. We had planned to get gas and a pump out before heading out in the morning...Maybe...Maybe not!!!.

Supper tonight is at Captain's Cove Restaurant and Bar..overlooking the Illinois River....it's night two and no one wants to cook. We'd rather nap and shower. Seems reasonable!!!

HOT HOT HOT...we sure thought we'd be getting into St Charles before the summer heat kicked in...HA!!! We have gone straight from winter to summer...skipped right over those cooler nights where you didn't need to run the AC...temp today was 92. Floyd says tomorrow will be cooler...only 86. Double HA.

Another interesting fact...Starved Rock is close to the town of Utica Ill...according to my google maps...1 hour and 34 minutes driving time from Chicago...but not near as much fun as the 18 and a half hours we've spent boating here. hehehehe  Our new friends, Kurt and Jim had a bit of bad luck today...did some prop damage on a floating log. They stopped in Ottawa ...made a switch and then blew on past us...they are trying to get their newly purchased boat back to Louisville...in a bigger hurry and they travel at a faster speed...so who knows if we'll see them again or not. That's the way this stuff works.

Tomorrow is another long day...to Peoria ...Illinois Valley Yacht Club...one lock but 62 miles...as long as we are moving the heat is bearable. Slather on the sunscreen and drink lots of water...we think we'll be in St Charles on Sunday...what a great Father's Day!!!!

Chicago to Harborside Marina...Tuesday, June 14...can I start by mentioning how smooth the water is??? After the day Dakota and I had crossing yesterday, we were delighted. And warmth!!! Finally it is feeling like summer is close. Yesterday in our long sleeves and winter rain gear...today in shorts, sleeveless tops and flip flops. The goal was 55 miles...3 locks...and 70 bridges. The ride through downtown Chicago at 830 AM was delightful. Plus we didn't have to aggravate those worker bees...we were short enough to go under all bridges without requesting them to open. Lots of water taxis and working barges around a couple of construction sights ...and people people people...several took our photos...I LOVE CHICAGO!!!!

Dakota was more interested in supervising my work...and he did manage to "bark" hi to several folks...we were having some fun!!!

and then came the shipping canal...WOW!!! narrow is putting it mildly. Barges parked on one side with just enough room for another barge to get by on the other...at one point we had to stop and back between two parked barges to let a tow and barges get by. Pretty exciting stuff!!!

and then the locks...Tow SAM FLEMING carrying chemicals and pushing 6 barges was in front of us. He was so big he had to break apart, use two passes and then reassemble. Takes more than a little while. We arrived at lock #2 to find two other boats waiting (they told the story) . We waited for an hour and then locked though attached to another tow SYDNEY REESE and 4 barges. We had experienced this before but hadn't had to attach to the barges...so new experience for us.

And now we are all backed up...next lock was a two hour wait. Luckily we found a wall in Joliet just down from lock 3 to tie off and wait. It was an interesting experience. We got to meet the other two boat folks...a mother and 7 very inquisitive young kids...but most important, Dakota could get off the boat and do his business. We walked and played...but it was warm!!!

Finally we locked though and pulled into our marina stop for the night...it was 7:20 pm...we had thought we'd be there around 3....LONG day...we dashed to the restaurant because we were told they closed at 8...no one wanted to cook! Amazingly, they didn't close until 9...and we were joined by Kurt and Jim, future loopers that were part of our crowd in the locks. Service was fast, food was good and overall a delightful experience...but we were hot and tired. And tomorrow is another long travel day...I think they all are for awhile.