Rock Harbor Marina and Nashville

Tennesee Titan stadium and Nashville looking up Broadway

Honky Tonk "The stage"  and band Sweet tea and the homewreckers

Didn't go in there Carla NElson and Scott Collier

BB Kingsmen and Chainsaw Dupont playing the Blues

We left Buzzard rock this morning and cruised to Rock Harbor marina. Nashville's city docks were closed for 5 days so we decided to stay at Rock Harbor and take a cab into Nashville. We got settled in and went to eat at the Blue Moon Lagoon cafe for dinner and some A/C that was much needed. We had a great meal and our waitress Andrea was full of great info about Nashville. We also found out that we were eating in a restaurant that Erv Woosley (George Strait's manager) owned. THis is a very popular place and boats could also cruise up to their dock and eat. 

We went into Nashville around 10:00am by cab and we walked around the waterfront then went into the Stage for a little entertainment. THe band was good and then it was lunch time. We ate at a nice restaurant on Broadway then went to the famous Tootsie's. There was a great band there playing and we stayed for a while. The singer Scott Collier and the fiddle player Carla Nelson was totally awesome. They should both be recording and playing all over. 

To finish the night and day off we went to BB KINGS for some blues. Chainsaw Dupont from Chicago and the BB Kingsmen were playing and bringing down the house. This was a fun day for us both and we will now continue our trip on the Cumberland River to our next stop.

Alton to Hoppies then on to Buzzard Rock in Ky

We left Alton and cruised to Hoppies on the Mississippi. We were dodging logs and current all the way there. We fueled up at Hoppies and purchased 3 more 5 gal jugs to carry extra fuel on our next leg. We would be cruising 259 miles and no fuel stops between Hoppies and the Cumberland River. Now Hoppies was a unique marina in itself. It was about 4-5 barges linked together with electric and water setup and the fuel dock We actually had a GREAT nights sleep and it was an experience I won't forget. We left at 7am this morning and cruised 259 miles, through 3 locks and 3 rivers to get to Buzzard Rock marina by 6pm. We had one incident on the Ohio River when we hit a log that we did not see. The propeller was slightly bent, but we could still keep going and Alan will change it tomorrow. You would think after all the lumber we saw floating in the Mississippi and did not see ANY in the Ohio River , that is where we nailed it hard. 

Alton, Mo

We arrived Alton and pulled into ramp so that Randy could pull the boat out of the water and service the motor. All went well and he had her back n within an hour. We really appreciated Randy and his son for spending there Sunday with us. We cruised back to our slip at the marina and then decided to take a walk around Alton which wasn't that much to see. We walked by the casino and yes we ducked inside for a little bit. A very short bit since we each had $20.00 bucks to play with. Well, it was a good night for us and we came out winners and ran as fast as we could to the boat so that we would hold on to it. 

When we got back to the boat I was fixing the dinner and Alan was on the deck of the boat watching a show over at the next dock. Obviously the young lady had way too much to drink as she was pole dancing to music and EVERYBODY could see it.  

Tall Timbers Marina to Grafton Mo and Linda is a year older

We left Tall Timbers and headed for Grafton Marina. We arrived and decided to stay 3 nights, clean out boat and just relax a bit. Friday morning I met Duanne in the marina store and started talking about boats. He used to own a c-dory and invited Alan and I out that night. He took us to Fast Eddies in Alton which has the cheapest food around(and it was good) as long as you buy a drink. They served bottled tea so I was good. The shrimp and wings were fantastic and the atmosphere was great. The next day we celebrated my over the half century mark by riding bikes to the state park and having lunch at the lodge. 10 miles later, sore butts and me not feeling any younger we came back to the boat and had soup for dinner. 

We met Randy Sheehy a C-dory dealer from St. Louis who came to look at out Cape Cruiser 23. Randy made the arrangements to haul out our boat and have her serviced tomorrow at Alton. We will leave in the morning for the short 15 mile trip and stay the night there. 

Chicago to Peoria, Il

We left Chicago and had a great cruise through the city. It was amazing from the water to see what rush hour is like in the mornings. People were everywhere walking across several bridges, taking water taxis, trains and etc. It was a beautiful morning for cruising and the weather was great. The locks went smooth until later in the afternoon and it started getting busy on the river with barges. We had to wait an hour and half for the last lock so we pulled into Starved Rock marina(wonder how they got that name)for the night near Ottawa, Illinois. Very nice people and marina. It had been so hot that day that I thought we might had somehow been beamed back to Florida. The humidity was about 85%. After not much sleep we topped off the fuel tanks and headed south again. The river was busy again today with barges so we had to wait for locks. We stopped and fueled up again at the Illinois Valley yacht club and had a great lunch. They called ahead at a marina for us near Peoria to expect us. We arrived about 5:30pm and tied up for the night. They are expected Gustave here tomorrow so we will see if we are going to travel. It has really been interesting on this leg of the trip watching the barges and how they operate. They have 3 or 4 barges and sometimes 2 wide that they are pushing along the river. Seems like barge traffic is up this summer, which I am sure has to do with the price of fuel and the economy.

Chicago-Pictures

Roosevelt Bridge and Sears tower in background 

Rush hour taxis along waterway in the morning

Skyscapers and and those who have to go to work

walking on bridge during rush hour

Chicago Harbor Lock and Soldier Field "DA BEARS"

Chicago skyline and cruising through the Chicago River

South Haven to Chicago

We left SOuth HAven about 11am on Sunday and arrived CHicago around 2:45pm after crossing Lake Michigan in nearly flat waters. It was the smoothest ride we have had on Lake Michigan since Mackinaw. We arrived at Burham harbor in Chicago and tied up to dock. We knew it would be busy because it was the holiday weekend. We just didn't know HOW busy. We requested another dock space the next morning and they moved us to an inside spot. We visited the Shedd aquarium on Monday and had a good time. We got to see the final dolphin show for the season that afternoon and it was pretty cool. It was so hot we just hung out for the A/C. Tomorrow will be an early morning so we can get through the Chicago Harbor lock early. We want to see the city when it is hopping by water.