Peoria Ill. 
Tall Timbers Marina
The Blue Heron Bar (A little slice of paradise on the Illinois River).
We had rain overnight and it was overcast with sprinkles when we got up. George cooked a wonderful Sunday morning breakfast of scrambled eggs mixed with onions, cheese, and bacon and toasted cheddar cheese bread. It was our once-a-week big breakfast splurge!
We headed out into the river at 9:45 a.m. for a relaxed 48 mile trip to Tall Timbers Marina in Havana. Again we called ahead to the lock-tender at the Peoria Lock and he also told us to come on ahead as he had no commercial traffic. Like yesterday, the locking was effortless as we quickly entered and were given the option to float in the center as we were lowered only 8 feet. We didn't even have to tie up!
As we made our way down the river we passed by the city of Peoria, the home of Caterpiller Corporation, the maker of our two hard-working engines. There was really no adequate dockage in the city's slips for a boat of our size, so we weren't able to visit.
As we continued on our route, the shoreline became very rural with lots of blue herons sitting along the banks, and we could see the results that last Fall's and this Spring's flooding had taken on the trees along the river. Many were completely up-rooted or had their roots greatly exposed. There were also few houses in this flood-plain prone area, and those we did see were either built on stilts, or were situated behind high levees.
The boat traffic was very light and small bass boats seem to be the norm. The river was also quite shallow along its shores and it was important to follow the channel. We arrived at Tall Timbers at 2:45 p.m.
This was a small tucked-away private marina whose entrance could hardly be seen from the river itself. You have to know that it's there! We entered through the very narrow opening surrounded by rock walls into the marina's cove of approximately 35 boats.
"Reflection" was definitely the biggest boat here, but Captain George very adeptly turned her around and we backed up to our assigned place at the fuel dock. We were warmly greeted by Bob, the owner, and by a number of other boat owners who were sitting at the tropical bar area right alongside our boat. Some even wanted tours aboard! We were definitely the "talk" of the marina, and during the late afternoon and early evening many people stopped by to chat and to ask questions about our "Loop" adventure. Tonight we also finally had the steak dinner aboard that we had been promising Charlie and Helen for almost a week. It was a fun evening at this great spot!
We headed out into the river at 9:45 a.m. for a relaxed 48 mile trip to Tall Timbers Marina in Havana. Again we called ahead to the lock-tender at the Peoria Lock and he also told us to come on ahead as he had no commercial traffic. Like yesterday, the locking was effortless as we quickly entered and were given the option to float in the center as we were lowered only 8 feet. We didn't even have to tie up!
As we made our way down the river we passed by the city of Peoria, the home of Caterpiller Corporation, the maker of our two hard-working engines. There was really no adequate dockage in the city's slips for a boat of our size, so we weren't able to visit.
As we continued on our route, the shoreline became very rural with lots of blue herons sitting along the banks, and we could see the results that last Fall's and this Spring's flooding had taken on the trees along the river. Many were completely up-rooted or had their roots greatly exposed. There were also few houses in this flood-plain prone area, and those we did see were either built on stilts, or were situated behind high levees.
The boat traffic was very light and small bass boats seem to be the norm. The river was also quite shallow along its shores and it was important to follow the channel. We arrived at Tall Timbers at 2:45 p.m.
This was a small tucked-away private marina whose entrance could hardly be seen from the river itself. You have to know that it's there! We entered through the very narrow opening surrounded by rock walls into the marina's cove of approximately 35 boats.
"Reflection" was definitely the biggest boat here, but Captain George very adeptly turned her around and we backed up to our assigned place at the fuel dock. We were warmly greeted by Bob, the owner, and by a number of other boat owners who were sitting at the tropical bar area right alongside our boat. Some even wanted tours aboard! We were definitely the "talk" of the marina, and during the late afternoon and early evening many people stopped by to chat and to ask questions about our "Loop" adventure. Tonight we also finally had the steak dinner aboard that we had been promising Charlie and Helen for almost a week. It was a fun evening at this great spot!
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