Ottawa, Illinois

We traveled 39.7 NM  down the Des Plains River then the Illinois River.  We locked down 80' through 3 locks.  We left Joliet at 6:50 a.m. and did not arrive Ottawa until 5:15 p.m.  Although, we called ahead to the bridge and locks to come, we had to wait many hours at both for the barges to go through.  The scenery changed from industrial to beautiful woods along the shore.  Some of the foliage is beginning to turn to autumn colors!  The people along the Illinois River really love their jet skies.  The river sounded like huge swarms of bees from all the jet skies rushing to jump our wake.   We are docked at Heritage Harbor Marina, Ottawa, Illinois. For dinner this evening, after a long day, the marina restaurant delivered our dinner to our boat!

Ready to head south.

Just a tad bit of erosion.

A touch of autumn!

More hints of autumn.

Going down.

Our new friends, Ryan and Patrick, aboard Lady M.

Thank you Ryan for these great photos of our vessel!

Heritage Harbor Marina. 

Joliet, Illinois- Day 2

We cycled around the city today. Ended up on Route 66 for kicks! Ate lunch at Joliet's Route 66 Diner then hit Harrah's Casino where Charlie wanted to valet park!  I won at the Roulette table! The Family Fiesta in the park was our evening stop where we enjoyed street tacos. We have been missing Mexican food so this was a treat! We joined Loopers Robert and Corinne aboard their boat, Ariel, for docktails.

Valet said it would only cost us $2

 

 

Funnel cakes!

Charlie decided on the caramel and Oreo funnel cake.

At port.