What it is really like to travel like this?

Yesterday’s post was kind of boring. We went here. We did this. We saw that. Yada yada yada. I would like to expand on a few ideas so you know that it is not really boring at all.

We really needed to nap. That gave us no time at all in an 8 hour run to clean the inside of the boat. Put that back on the list of things to do today.

The dog is not happy. It took us at least 30 minutes to coax him off the boat when we tied up at Peoria. We are not sure why. He was shaking all over. He actually put his feet out like a little kid trying to avoid getting put into the car. He blocked the exit and just refused! We tried treats. We pulled on the leash. We pushed from the back. Nothing. I mean nothing. I tried a distraction tactic and fed him his dinner on the back deck. Finally I think he was so full of waste he just gave up and tumbled down the back stairs to the back deck where he scampered off the ramp to the dock. Then he was pleased with himself!! Wow, look at me!! I am on land!!! We ran up the ramp to the Peoria Gateway Center and wandered around the Oktoberfest party that was starting to tear down. He was happy as long as he could vacuum up the dropped food. But we got the same performance when I turned back to the boat. No way Jose. No going. You can’t make me. So we wandered around for a while more until Kermit came up to look for us. Then Rusty agreed to go back to the boat.

This morning it was much easier. He just climbed down and we went for a long walk in the early dawn. Rusty loves this weather – about 37 degrees this morning, a little foggy but clear sky. Rusty is like a puppy, prancing with this dancing dog walk. We walked around the Caterpiller headquarters in the semi-dark of dawn watching people arrive for work. One by one cubicles lit up and cars filled the parking lots. And it wasn't even light yet! I remember those days without fondness.

Last evening while walking we met the harbor host, Steve, on Sophie Jo (I think), and his white cockateal Jazzy. He just returned from working at the Oktoberfest so he was pretty happy and friendly. He told us how much he loves living on his boat (some kind of trawler, we forget) full time. I wondered but did not ask (I should have – I am curious) what he does during the winter because if this is fall, I bet I can guess what winter is like! Shades of Ohio!!

There are four boats in our little flotilla. We gathered and wandered about the river walk area for a while searching for exactly the right restaurant. Not many were open. There was the urine soaked, below street level bar, the sports bar with only sandwiches but not enough variety for the entire team, and the fancy steakhouse across from the court house. The first one was out for obvious reasons. I think the final decider on that one was the really drunk lady exiting as we approached who said it was a great place to eat. We turned around. One couple had enough and went back to their boat. They were expecting guests anyway and we had frittered away a bunch of time wandering around. So six of us headed to Jim’s Steakhouse for what Kermit says was the best steak all trip. Prime aged filet mignon for under $30 including salad and sides. Such a deal!!

I can’t believe how exhausting it is to drive all day everyday. It shouldn’t be. We are not expending energy. But we are very tired at the end of the day. We just drop into bed after dinner. It takes all my energy to write and publish the blog before sleep hits. We read very little before collapsing.  Maybe it is the fresh air. Or maybe it is the need to pay attention to charts, water levels, gauges, radio transmissions, and personal needs all at the same time. And we don’t get anything else done. The cabin doesn’t get cleaned and we are not exercising. I am fooling myself about working very much.  But we feel fit and we are tired. So I don’t know. Something is going on!

Kermit says yesterday was the most exhausting day of the trip. These guys are really pushing. We either go with them or go alone and we don’t really want to be alone. In addition to camaraderie, the other boats see things we might miss. The lead boat talks to locks and tows which takes time and energy. Bad things happen if you miss something or make a mistake. So we continue with the group.

Today is supposed to be longer than yesterday. We anticipate 74 miles today. We left at 6:45am today and we have been sitting for almost an hour waiting for the lock downriver from Peoria. Assuming we get through the lock smoothly with this tow we are looking at arriving around 5 or 6pm at our today’s destination: Beardstown IL. Tying up to a barge tonight! Yipee!!