Riverdock Restaurant - Hardin, IL

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18th -  MILE MARKER 21

Trip Day:	191	Latitude:	39°09.22' N	Locks Today:	1
Miles Today:	65	Longitude:	090°36.98' W	Locks Total:	89
Total Miles:	3,834	Location:	Riverdock Restaurant, IL

The temperatures did indeed drop overnight and the   morning steam rising from the warmer water encompassed the nine boats in our anchorage.  We three boats were the first to lift anchors and get underway knowing we had a long day ahead to cover over 60 miles. 

Five miles downstream was LaGrange Lock which could make or break our average speed for the day.  Unfortunately, there was a tug pushing 15 barges just entering the lock.  One pleasure boat, Jet Stream, was already standing by so our three boats fell in line to wait.  Before the hour was up there were nine boats waiting for the lock when the tug finally exited.  It takes quite some time to fill these 600 ft long locks, then get nine boats       secured along the lock wall.  But, we finally cleared LaGrange and were once again headed downstream. 
A couple hours later we caught up to the tug, Miss Alley, and one by one each boat hailed her on the VHF with our intent to pass.  The captain directed us to pass on the “one” which meant we passed on his right side; our port to his starboard.

 

It’s official—we passed our most Western point on our journey.  At mile marker 61.5 as we passed  under the Norfolk Southern RR Bridge, our longitude reading was 090°38.78. 

 On these long days on the river it doesn’t take much to catch our eye and get labeled “interesting”, such as this abandoned craft.  We   wondered what stories she could tell of her adventures on the rivers.

 A little after five o’clock we reached our destination—the Riverdock Restaurant which allows overnight docking when dining—not a hardship for us.   The pork chops were three inches thick and the special for the night was brisket, which Ron ordered.  I had a salad to offset the calories of their  famous pie I planned to have after dinner. Oh my, the coconut cream pie was good—made me think of my mother’s pie—and I was happy!