Seneca, IL

After calling the Brandon Road Lock to verify our probable locking time we left the Joliet Wall.  We had a short wait but got through without much delay. This is a federal lock; meaning it is managed by the Army Corps of Engineers (ACE). As such, they are very large - measuring 110' wide and 600' long to accommodate all of the barge traffic. That large size also makes it much easier for us also. For contrast the locks in the Eerie Canal were 34' wide and 120' long (a very tight fit for multiple boats at the same time). 

Here I am showing my excitement for locking again!! It was a pretty large drop in water level judging from that lock wall.

The Illinois River has a lot of charm below.

The Dresden Lock was a different story. This lock killed out destination that day!  We waited 3-4 hours for our turn to lock through.  With all the barge traffic we are lowest on the totem pole so we wait.  As you can see we are rafted up to one another which of course requires dropping the anchor which we haven't done in a while.  But all went well and the anchor set and Misty Pearl rafted up with us.

Into the lock we finally go with a ton of Duckweed.  Time to check the sea strainers again.

Look at the cute birdhouse of a tug in the lock.

Even with a large flotilla of 13 pleasure boats in the lock this tug still was first in and first out.  The barge captains and the Lockmaster referred to us as the "Herd of Turtles" and "those plastic boats".

Again, a really nice cruising day down the river system.

As I mentioned earlier, with the long delay at the Lock, we were unable to make our original destination before we lost daylight. So, with a little scramble, we found a small marina that could take 9 of us, Spring Brook Marina.

Spring Brook was also a new boat dealer. All of these model boats were in their lobby. I guess when you pay three quarters of a  million plus for a new boat they throw in the model for free.

Contacted the small restaurant at the marina and asked if they could accommodate all of us and they said they would do their best (they were closed on Tuesdays but opened for us).  There was a guy who cooked, served drinks at the bar, greeted us, and took payment. He called a friend to come waitress and she was great!

The herd of turtles are pictured below.

On to the next morning!  Had a group wake up call at 6:00am that turned into a group snooze alarm with Marseilles Lock information over the VHF.  Per the lockmaster we left at 8:45 since we were about 5 miles away for a 9:30 lock through.

Mornings on the water are always beautiful.