Dock at Illinois Resturant

39 09.205N

90 36.983W

A much more comfortable stop for the night. As you can see the ramp to the dock is underwater! We shared the dock with two other loopers. One couple from California, Grape Escape, and a single from Tennessee, Dream Seeker.

Mortland Island Anchorage

39 06.956N

90 36.768W

As you can see the islands are under water. We anchored off the river behind this island but the current was running very fast and we were only anchored a few minutes when a log hit the boat. We decided to up anchorage and look for something better. We saw some more white pelicans.

Tall Timbers Marina, Havana, IL

40 18.365N

90 03.956W

One of the boats leaving the marina is going by the sign for the marina almost touching the water.

Navigating the waters was tricky especially when the markers were in the trees along the side of the river. Some of the smart people have their houses on stilts. In one picture you can see how high the water was by the grey color on the leaves of the trees.

Eastport Marina, E. Peoria, IL

40 41.563N

89 32.951W

Downtown Peoria at night and then in the morning with the riverboat. More flooding. The river is finally open all the way to the Mississippi. We are trying to get south before the cold weather!

The Marina people said that they have been flooded 9 times in the last 13 months! Some of the dock ramps were underwater still. You had to dinghy to docks that were not under water.

Upper Henry Island Anchorage

41 05.129N

89 22.802W

First time we have anchored out in almost a month. It was a little unnerving at first because the current is about 3 knots. You can see more of the flooding. There are hedgerows that are under water and lakes where dry land is suppose to be. You can see the dam in one picture. Some of the dams are wicket dams--when it is flooded they put the wickets down and you just motor over it instead of going through a lock. Scary at first.

Joilet to Ottawa, IL

41 20.423N
88 47.203W
Some pleasant scenes of white pelicans getting ready to head south. Some scenes of the devastation along the river from flooding. In some places you could see how far reaching the water was by the fields with crops that had been destroyed. As of today there are still a few miles along the IL River that are closed (around MM100)

Huck Fin on the River

There are three guys on the mak- shift raft. They had pulled in to the Joliet wall on Friday and got on their bikes to go get some gas for their very small motor. We passed them today anchored on the side of the river.