Hennepin Illinois

October 13, 2016

It was 39 degrees when we woke at the Ottawa Municipal Dock. Looking east toward the sunrise, we could see ground fog on the waterway. After a walk to town for milk and sweet rolls we backed Mystic out from under the bridge around 9:30 and headed for Hennepin, Illinois 33 miles south.

Eagles on the Illinois River

Passing a Tow on a curve in the river

Starved Rock State Park from the River

Starved Rock State Park

Starved Rock State Park

Vultures Drying in the sun Along the Illinois River

White Pelican Flock heading South with us

White Pelican Flock

We locked through the Starved Rock Lock and met our first fellow Loopers aboard a catamaran named Mucho Gusto. They started their Loop in Ft. Lauderdale. They led us south out of the lock arriving at Hennepin just in front of us. There is a free spot for boats to tie up along a barge wall here. The barge has been filled with dirt and has become part of the shore. There are no services and you have to climb over a guard rail to get off of that wall. It's not luxurious but we are grateful to have a safe spot to sit for the night.

Mucho Gusto leading the way

Two boats on the wall

A place to get to relax with a cold beer

Beth climbing up the Hennepin guard rail

Careful Boarding at Hennepin

Welcome to Hennepin

We met the couple aboard Mucho Gusto, Scott and Rhonda Joiner. They have been Looping since April and have covered three quarters of the loop already. We climbed the 55 steps from the filled in barge tie up to the tiny “downtown” that sits above it. We visited the grocery store then pop into the pub for a beer. We had a lot of fun chatting with the Joiner’s, comparing our experiences on Lake Michigan. We’d been to many of the same places just at different times. It is so nice to have someone to talk to and share info with; someone to help us devise our plans (A, B, & C) for the next day.

Today was uneventful which is good! Tomorrow Plan (A) brings us to Peoria at mile 120. There is another free dock waiting for us there. It is early to bed tonight; no wifi and no power!

Note: Dave posted a message on the AGLCA message digest yesterday; our first online contact with other Loopers. We got several responses today! Things are changing for us. We've got new friends!