Martha, standing on a barge at Beardstown.
On Wednesday we traveled 80 miles from Peoria to Beardstown. We had planned to tie to a barge or tow at the Logsdon Tow Service. They allow loopers to stay for the night for $1/foot, but there are no services.
When we arrived, we were the 7th boat, which is more than they can handle. We rafted to Grand Baron, glad to be done with our traveling. It was 3:00 pm.
Getting off Aunt Aggie and into town was a feat. Climbing around a dirty, rusty barge, past piles of wire and wood, without falling was a challenge. Then we had to go up an open weave, metal stair. We persevered, realizing this was the only time we would leave the boat.
When you have a fear of heights, climbing up these stairs was no picnic.
Actually, coming back down is the harder part.
The barges are full of building materials. Awkward footing at best.
Beardstown is organized around a shady square. Most of the loopers convened at a bar that featured an outdoor picnic table and 75 cent beer. We met more new loopers and spent more time with Red Eagle and Lee Loo. Lady KK is also here.
Abraham Lincoln won the famous Almanac case here in a courtroom
that is still preserved. He was the state legislator for this county too.
In order to raise funds to restore the Grand Opera House,
the town is raffling off a shotgun.
Dinner was pancakes and pears. Then we went early to sleep, hoping to leave this morning at 7:00 to finish the Illinois River in Grafton, 88 miles away.
9/24/15, 7:30 am:
Our plans were crushed when we learned that the La Grange Lock, 8 miles south of Beardstown, is closed for maintenance. All seven boats sat at the dock. Red Eagle called the lock on the hour for the group. We finally did leave at 8:00 am and drove over the lock slowly. Yahoo!
We had no internet on Wednesday, so I am sending this in route on Thursday morning.
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