Grafton Harbor is at mile 0.7 LDB, and our last stop on the Illinois River! This marina was new in 2006 and features many covered slips for seasonal boaters. The whole facility is on floating docks including the store, bathrooms and pool/hot tub! Flood protection. Many loopers stop here. The staff is very accommodating plus they have a courtesy vehicle for grocery runs! Mike spotted a Catamaran named Catmandu..... We know a boat with this name from a marina back home. It must be different one, but wait.....their home port is Midland, MI. Small world, uh! We were pleased to meet Bill and Chris as we have always admired their boat. Of course her sail had been removed for the trip down river. Limelight joined us the on Wednesday after having their head repaired. We borrowed the courtesy van and went into Jerseyville to get provisions. It may be awhile before this opportunity presents itself again.
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| Approaching Grafton Harbor Marina |
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| Street View |
restaurant. One of the regulars
offered me a ride on her bike.
Mike and I are pointing at
the flood levels from
1993 and 2008!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Anita, Don, Mike and I rented a car and went to Alton visit the Mel Price Lock and Dam because it has a museum attached. It was interesting to see the lock from this vantage point. This lock has a smaller chamber used for pleasure crafts and a larger one for commercial crafts, i.e. tows). There was an antimated feature were you could 'drive' a tow pushing barges. Don crashed (on purpose), I took too long to manuivour under a bridge but did not hit anything! Anita was the most successful. It gives you an appreciation of tows from their perspective.
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| Mel Price Lock and Dam |
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| Upper Mississippi Locks |
In the morning, we move on once again.
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