Grafton Illinois

October 18, 2016

The anchorage at Big Blue Island turned out to be ok. It was scary but we didn't get run over by any Tows. We were in a straightaway along the river with a bend on each end of it; kind of like an "S". As the tows made the corners they would scan the shoreline with their spotlights. When the light hit us, it would light us up like a Christmas tree, including inside the cabin below. We could hear them coming but we were blinded by their light. Scott left his AIS on all night long so the tows would know he was there before they could even saw him. That was a comfort to us, tucked next to them, just outside the channel.

The noisy wind kept up all night long, finally laying down some time before morning. We woke to the sound of seagulls and geese. The day's forecast called for very windy conditions and temps in the upper 80's. We are able to pull anchor and head south by 7:00 am. There are three locks to pass through on our way to Grafton. Wing dams line the channel on both sides along this section of the Illinois. You have to pay close attention to where you are, not straying far from the middle of the channel. We arrived at Grafton around 3:00 after an eight hour day moving 60 miles, Mucho Gusto went into the marina first. We each fueled up and found our slip for the night. Tonight we will be on land.

Following Mucho Gusto into Grafton, IL

Hakuna Matata Grafton, Illinois

American Queen at Grafton Illinois 

Grafton Marina

Dave and I needed provisions so we borrowed the courtesy van and drove into the Walmart in Jerseyville. We laughed when we saw that it was a 15 passenger van, reminiscent of our days running Ragnar Relays. This was our first experience with a marina offering this unexpected amenity to transient boaters. Grafton's loaner was an old Dodge Ram with over 200,000 miles. It made a lot of noise but got us to the store and back in one piece.

Dave and the courtesy van at Grafton Marina

We met Ernie aboard Grateful II, a beautiful Cabrico 40. Ernie has been on the loop for 1.5 years now. We enjoyed comparing notes with him and chatting about traveling down the Mississippi. Tomorrow we head off into that mighty river hoping to get to Hoppie's Marina in Kimmswick, Missouri.

Grafton, Illinois Marina

Sunset on Hakuna Matata

Grafton Marina Sunset

Grafton Sunset

Marina Sunset