Starved Rock Lock, Confined to a Cell

After we left Ottawa, we traveled a short 15 miles to Starved Rock Marina.  Starved Rock State Park is nearby, but we did not travel to it because we didn't have a car.

The Legend of Starved Rock:
The area gets its name from a Native American legend.  At a tribal meeting, the head chief of the Illinois tribe, Kinebo, stabbed and killed the head chief of the Ottawa tribe, Chief Pontiac.  A great battle started between the two tribes. The Illinois tribe took refuge on a great rock, but they became surrounded by their enemies.  After many days, the remaining Illinois tribe died of starvation giving this place the historic name - Starved Rock.

We left the marina and traveled about a mile to the next lock, Starved Rock Lock.  There was a tow and barge coming up the lock, so we were given permission to tie up to a cell. Cells are large round concrete barriers that can be used by barges and boats to tie to while waiting for the lock to open. These cells also prevent barges from getting out of the channel and going into the dam. We have not done that before, so it took several tries, because of significant current coming down the river and around these cells.  We were also traveling with friends Grant and Cindy, As The Crow Flies.

Tied to the cell wall, with As The Crow Flies.  This is not as easy as it looks!

Because of the recent rains, the Illinois River has a 2+ knot current.  This makes docking the boat more difficult.  We first tried to tie off the boat at midship, but that didn't work because the current turned us away from the cell.  King said to tie up at the front of the boat (the bow cleat).  I moved to the front of the boat and brought the bow line around the bollard.  BUT, when I moved from the midship to the bow, I dropped the midship line into the water.  Not good.  The line got tangled in the prop, which stopped the port engine cold, just as we were re-approaching the cell. With just the starboard engine, King maneuvered us to the cell so that I could catch the bollard with the bow dock line.  Once secured, we discovered the other line was wrapped tight around the prop.  Fortunately King had installed a rope cutter (sharp disc) on the prop shafts, so with a little maneuvering the line was cut and the engine was ready to go. Without the rope cutters on the prop shafts, we would have needed a diver or else hauled the boat out to remove the entangled rope.

Cut Line

Safely tied up - waiting for the green light at the lock.

Six pleasure boats locked through together.  The tug had already brought up one set of barges though the lock (that's why we had to wait) and is now waiting to bring the next set.  We fortunately got to ride the lock down and exit to the left around the waiting tug and barges.  When the tug and barges get to the top of the lock, the first set of barges is reconnected to this set of barges.  Quite a process. Locks are 100 ft by 600 ft.

Exiting the Starved Rock Lock around the tow and barges.  

Meeting a large tow, see the debris in the water in front of the barges.

Grant and Cindy, As The Crow Flies, leaving the lock and proceeding down the river.

We traveled until 2:30 and tied up to a free wall in Hennepin, IL.