Crows and Ravens

Hennepin, IL and a free town wall to tie to was a welcome stop for  two nights.  Room for two boats; so we and the crowboat, As The Crow Flies, are happily enjoying this small town of 700 people. One unique store - a small grocery that supplies tow boat crews with supplies.

The dock is free,so can't complain, but the only way to the town up the hill is to climb over the fence. I had some great assistance.

Blue Moon and As The Crow Flies looking down from the top of the hill.

We walked across town to the only "restaurant".  Very limited menu, but alot of fun.

What a coincidence -
Just this morning we read in The Great Loop Forum about a couple from Quebec and their dog who are completing the loop in a canoe!  A pleasant surprise when we looked out our window and saw the couple boating right beside us.  Pierre, Jennifer and Jasmine started from Ottawa, Canada on June 6th and have canoed to Hennepin, Illinois.

Cindy and Grant hosted a wonderfully delicious dinner party.  Cindy has wonderful decor! We had stories to share and a great evening.

Pierre, Jennifer and Jasmine are well organized as they transport 500 pounds of gear.  Everything has its place.  Pierre said that they paddle at 55 strokes per minute which provides the most efficient speed.  With the river current they travel at about 5 miles per hour.  They stop and rest about 5 minutes each hour and eat.  I know Jennifer bought several bags of candy.  Pierre told about radioing to a tow and asking whether to pass on the 1 or the 2.  The tow captain just laughed thinking they were kidding, but they weren't as they passed the embarrassed tow captain.  He did not think a canoe could pass him!

The white AGLCA flag on the front of our boat identifies our boat to fellow loopers.  The white color signifies that we are completing the loop for the first time, gold signifies, loop completed.  We look forward to going gold.

Platinum, around the Loop again.... maybe someday.

Well, Pierre and Jennifer did not have a flag, so we said they needed a flag more than we did, and we gave them ours for their canoe.