Seneca to Alton

After staying in port
Not cruising that day,
Wind subsided
We’re underway.

Quickly through
The Marseilles Lock,
Then Heritage Harbor
Had a good dock.

Temps were nice
Adventures good,
GPS guiding
Knew where we stood.

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Bruce at the wheel

Around the corners
The radio working,
Showing barges
As if they were lurking.

Night coming on
We needed a port,
Slowly into a harbor
Too late to abort.

The water got shallow
My depth sounder said,
We could hit bottom
On the river bed.

Just deep enough
The keel slid through,
A sigh of relief
From all of the crew.

Tugboats all over
Carp that were jumping,
Up on the docks
From propellers thumping.

A bike ride was next
Just for a treat,
McDonald’s we found
Ice cream to eat.

An ice cream run on the bikes

While looking to anchor
Later next day,
Behind an island
Wanting to stay.

The radio brayed
“Come over here”
Invitation welcomed
Upstream we did steer.

Friendly Loopers
On rafted boats,
We tied aside them
Under stars afloat.

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Rafted up with 4 other “Loopers”
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Next morning breaking up the “raft” of boats

Experienced Looper
Mick was the leader,
Compared to his boat
Mine was a beater.

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Our friends on the river

Grafton, then Alton
We soon had to part,
Going back home
To make a new start.

Fast forward 2 weeks.
Back on the boat,
The snow and cold
Cuts at our throats.

Kaskaskia is next
100 miles downriver
With heat in the cabin
To keep out the shivers.

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Houses all ready for flooding, built on stilts
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Alton bridge
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One of many industrial sites
Woodshop in Grafton
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Train ride home
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Boat sat in sight of this for 2 weeks
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Keeping the boys busy building models
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The floatinf marina in Alton… Snow here now, leaving in the morning!