Got way from our primitive “dock” this morning without incident. Our forward spring line was bearing most of the tension, so it was a relief for me when all I needed to do was untie the bow line from around the root of a tree, remove the back spring line and stern line, jump on the boat and have Barbara release the looped forward spring line from the boat cleat and reel it in. Our 40-mile ride was serene. We’ve been watching the white pelicans gather along the shoreline and fly overhead. They are much prettier than the gray ones you see on the Gulf or Atlantic coasts.

We’re at the Illinois Valley Yacht Club, or commonly known as the IVY Club. They welcome transients, especially during the annual migration of Loopers. This is the last stop for fuel for 181 miles! Since we arrived early in the day it gave me time to thoroughly wash the boat and Barbara time to do some laundry. BTW, the cruddy remains of Asian Carp are extremely difficult to remove!

We’re two days from the next marina that can accommodate our boat. Tomorrow, we push on about 80 miles to an anchorage south of Beardstown, IL. The next day we’ll go to Alton, IL on the Mississippi River. We’ll lay over there for a few days before pushing out and on to Paducah, KY; 240 miles before the next stop and no marinas of which we’re aware.