After an unplanned day of rest, we were underway at 0700 heading toward Starved Rock Lock, about 14 miles downstream. We made it through without incident and have now cleared all of the locks affected by the impending closedown. Hallelujah!! A collective shout was given over the radio as our group of 9 boats exited the lock. Now we can look forward to long stretches of nothingness - no marinas, no fuel! Tonight, we’re against a rock wall that was once a part of an old and now abandoned lock. Our lines are tied to a tree and rebar imbedded into concrete chunks - really! We’ll be here one night and then go about 40 miles downstream to the IVY (Illinois Valley Yacht) Club for one or two days. We’ll take on fuel there because the next fuel stop is 160 miles away in Alton, IL on the Mississippi River. More later. Need to check in at the marina.

Okay, I’m back. Had our first experience with Asian carp, you know, the invasive flying fish that environmentalists are trying to prevent from entering the Great Lakes. As we were slowly traveling down the river, I could see fish jumping, leaping, flying out the water at the boat in front of us. By the time we got to the similar position in the river, these fish were doing the same to our boat. One landed on the swim platform and kicked about for a bit before kicking itself back into the water. One of the following boaters told Barbara to catch it and cook it for our dinner tonight! Those fish are ugly, nasty dirty fish. They leave behind a black, muddy, and bloody residue on the boat. I can better understand why they’re so despised.

We’ll get away early tomorrow and try to keep pressing on to Alton, IL.