Lake Effect on Great Loop: Illinois River Anchorages

Leaving Peoria We are halfway down the Illinois River. 163 miles to Chicago (North) and 164 to Grafton (South).

The LaGrange Lock has been broken for a week and we decided to wait it out in Peoria. Peoria is a nice city. We stayed at the IVY Valley Yacht and Canoe Club. It is 110 years old. It is an old Grand Place. It is very friendly and fun place to be at. There isn't much to do around the Club, so we have used Uber for the first time. That's how we got to the Caterpillar Welcome Center.

Caterpillar factory on the left and Visitor Center on the Right of the River. Bye, Bye IVY Mascot!

Logston Tow Boat

We'd be lying if we said we weren't anxious as we left Peoria, we were facing two nights of dreaded anchoring on the Illinois river. It's something we have never done! Finding a safe area when there are barges and industrial areas all around made us nervous. We substituted an anchorage for a tie off on a barge. Turns out, it was very uncomfortable, dirty and expensive. We were awoken at 5.30 when the Tow boat started his engine.

Managed to find a pretty good Mexican restaurant and they had cold beer.

Found this little treasure in Beardstown.

Looks still operational.

Meandering down the river, the scenery is changing. I say it looks like the hills of Kentucky, but we are still in Illinois. It's pretty though. Still has the barges, and the industries, but a lot more green space.

Abandoned barges on the river edge. Intentional or wasteful?

Hunting blinds everywhere.

One different bridge.. no wait two bridges. One brand new one.

Working on the river.

Well we made it! We crossed the LaGrange Lock. What a relief! We only waited two hours which was a lot less then we expected.

Tying up while waiting for a lock opening!

Tow boats waiting for their loads.

The next night, we had to anchor. Turns out it was pretty nice so we stayed two nights. It was 93 degrees when we stopped for the night, but we wouldn't go in the water. It flows down from Chicago, it's pretty murky and there were flying Asian Carps around us. They are so fast, that I never caught any on camera yet. But we've seen them hop on the dock, jump behind the boats and almost hit Yvon in the dinghy.

We are starting to see more wildlife. When we anchored, we saw more then we've seen so far.

Snapping turtles galore!

Turkey Vultures. Thought maybe
they were waiting for us.

Starting to see more wildlife

Cows grazing my the river.

It was our first dinghy ride so far. We went to Hardin at Mel's Riverside restaurant about two miles up the river. Food looked delicious but we just had breakfast so had to skip the homemade pies. Cute little town on the river.