GL: Legrace Update

[Bob Williamson]

Hi All,

Left Joliet this morning and an almost empty wall, "Sea Estate" was staying
over one or two days more depending on how their shopping went today.

Following the pattern used the previous two mornings, we called Brandon Road
Lock around 7:00AM to get a status before untying.  The lock master asked us
to call back at 8:00, they had 4 tows in the queue, two up and two down.  It
was going to be a while and he would have a better idea around 8:00 when he
could fit us in with the tows.

Called back at 8:00 and told it would be around 9:30 or so, he would call us
on Channel 14.  While we were waiting we had a couple of radio conversations
with the tow captains.  One in particular was down bound from Lockport and
was concerned about the "pleasure boats" on the wall.  At first he was
talking to another tow captain trying to find out our status then we chimed
in.  He was worried about coming through there with 15 barges - a 3 by 5
long.  That kind of worried us too since the biggest I had seen coming
through was a 3 by 4 long; anyway to make the story shorter, he was going to
wait until we had moved down to Brandon Road Lock before coming through and
"Sea Estate" moved up to the northern end of the wall just below the
Jefferson St. Bridge to give him the maximum amount of swing room.  So if
you are heading to Joliet and there is plenty of room on the wall, tie up to
the northern end by the Visitor's Center and the Jefferson St. Bridge just
to give the big tows a bit more swing room.

We untied and headed down to Brandon Road Lock about 9:45 per the direction
of the lock master.  It turned out to be way too early but I guess they want
us waiting around and not them waiting for us.  We (5 boats) wound up
hovering until just before 11:00 and we completed locking through at 11:45.
Long wait from 7:00 AM

Dresden Lock was a bit better by a couple of hours, we got there about 1:00
and locked through with "Mallard" a tow with 6 barges.  I tied off to one of
the north side big round cells - an interesting exercise in it self, and
"Irish Eyes" and "Xplorer" rafted off of us.  The Tow "Mallard" was waiting
on the opposite bank and some really dumb folks began playing around on jet
skis just in front of them - and in the way of the up bound tow coming out
of the lock gates.  I have seen some really dumb things before but this one
just about tops the list.  The lock master was calling the cops, etc., etc.
trying to get these yahoos out of the way.  I knew there was a reason I
didn't like running on holiday weekends, oh well.

The crew of "Mallard" was great, they tied our lines to the cleats on barges
and we had a couple of smaller boats raft up to us, everything went a smooth
as could be and we were on our way about 3:30.

"Irish Eyes" and "Xplorer" passed up the anchorages at Sugar Island (MM261.3
and 260.2) and the one at No Name Island at MM 258.6.  The two catamarans
(one was Looper "First & Ten") we were traveling with did anchor at No Name
Island.  "Irish Eyes" and "Xplorer" found a spot to their liking just ahead
of Berry Island at MM 256.1.  We left them there as they were rafting up on
the hook just outside of the channel.

Lynn & I are in Spring Brook Marina (MM 251.8), we called earlier in the day
to make a reservation, and got a slip assignment.  We are all secured for
the night with the air conditioning going - got warm this afternoon.
Arrived here about 5:40PM, long after the office closed so we will settle up
with them in the morning and get a pump out before leaving.  Not sure how
far we will run tomorrow, have to see what kind of delays we hit at
Marseilles Lock and Starved Rock Lock.

The current picked up a bit below Dresden Lock, probably about 1.5 knots and
some grass & sticks in the water but didn't see any big stuff.

So that's it from here.

Bob & Lynn Williamson
On Legrace in Spring Brook Marina