Ottawa to Henry, Illinois

Well leaving Heritage Harbor Marina in Ottawa, IL went better than our arrival when we hit bottom.  Locals as well as the dock master told us to stay to the left of center as we left the marina and this went much better.  Still read only 0.5 feet under the boat but we did not hit.  It was about 9:15 AM Thursday Oct. 4th when we left because the lock 11 miles downstream of the marina was not going to be able to take us until around 10:30 AM due to tow traffic.  The lock said if we did not get there to lock through at 10:30 AM it would be at least another 6 hours before we could get through.  We made sure we were there by 10:30 AM.

Loopers Dorothy and Brian on their 42-foot Grand Banks named Seasons traveled with us Thursday

The Highway 6 Bridge with Seasons going under it.

I drove over this bridge in the loaner car 4 time Wednesday, now I was going under it.

Starved Rock Lock our only lock for today

View going down the river

We saw numerous eagles during the day

Also saw many barges along the way

Duck blinds are numerous

It was about 3:00 PM when we pulled up to the old lock wall in the town of Henry, IL.  This wall is part of a small marina.  The wall has rings to run lines through in order to tie up and there is power.  Southern Style and Seasons got situated and Dorothy and Brian came over to have docktails with us.

The Lock here in Henry, Illinois was the first lock built on the Illinois River back in 1870.  The town was an important place for both agriculture and industry and the lock greatly improved shipping through the area.  The lock cost $400,000 to build.  The town also raised money and built a wooden bridge with a swing span in the center so boats could pass.  Remains of the lock are still present and this is what we were tied to for our stay in Henry.

Southern Style at the abandoned lock wall in Henry, IL

View back up the Illinois River from our spot on the wall