006: Ottawa to Henry: Cold Day #1

As the new Flotilla Leader, Dan of the Willie Dawes, informed us that we had to leave the docks at 8:00 a.m. sharp to get to the next lock, Starved Rock Lock and Dam, for a “straight in” approach.  I.E, we would not have to wait for the lock to open, we could just get right in.  This to a boater is like showing up without a tee time and being told, "Go to the first tee, no groups are in front of you."    No waiting, no circling around, and no impatient captains!  Heaven!

The weather had changed.  It was cold.  Remember that hat that Kim Jensen knitted for me?   I was glad to have it:

 

After we got through that lock, and even though the flotilla was all going to Henry Harbor Marina, The One again felt the need to pass everyone.  This time they did a “fast pass” and gave us more diminutive boats a good rocking.   Thankfully they pulled out early the following morning and broke away from the flotilla, never to pass us again (we hope).

The rest of the way to the marina was uneventful.   We began to see more and more bald eagles.   Mostly nested in trees on the river bank, but a few flying.  Unfortunately the lack of a good telephoto lens makes getting good shots for this a bit of challenge.

While the trip to the marina was uneventful, my tendency to be impatient caused a bit of an “oops.”  The Marina is adjacent to an old river lock.   The green arrow shows the old lock and the marina leases that land and there is a floating dock there where boats can tie up.   With the water levels down so low, none of the larger boats could get into the inside of the marina, but with only thirty inches of draft, KatMat and us could.   But even then, we were warned we would only have about twelve inches to spare below our keel/prop/rudder. 

Rather than wait patiently to be guided in, I went in w/out guidance and went the wrong way.  Apparently when the town dredges that area around the ramp they “leave behind a pile of gravel and gunk” right about the point of the tip of the red arrow.   And yours truly bumped into it.   No harm done, could have been worse.  But lesson learned!  Take the help!  Don’t be impatient!   

 

After getting tied up with twelve inches to spare under the boat, I helped KatMat get in as their bow thruster sheer pin had sheered rendering their bow thruster inoperative.   Luckily Matt had a spare one.  I had that happen last year and bought a few extra sheer pins.  Basically the sheer pins are designed to break and protect the thruster motor, rather than have it burn out if something like a small stick gets caught in thruster propeller.  Nancy walked into town and did some sightseeing:

   

Before I forget: on the way downstream we started to see a few of the infamous jumping Asian Carp.  Search on YouTube.  The carp get excited/spooked by fast moving boats and literally jump out of the water.  We don't move that fast, so only saw a few.  However when KatMat pulled into the dock, they spooked about 1/2 a dozen of the carp which started jumping out of the water around the boat.  Crazy!

That night the marina staff hosted a bonfire with smores and Sol Maria invited us and KatMat over to their boat for drinks.   I dipped into my limited supply of Kanzler Vineyards Pinot Noir to share as Gavin and Lica regaled us with stories of crossing oceans, and all the places they have visited since 2009. 

 

It dipped into the low 30’s that night and we were glad that we had a small space heater that warms up the boat and also shore power on the dock to power it.

Dave

PS: Most of the pictures in this blog were taken by Nancy!