Dresden Island Lock, IL – Ottawa, IL, September 4, 2008

We were up at 6 this morning hoping to get underway and go through the lock at 7 but found out there was a long tow just starting to lock down. It was going to be 2-3 hours before we could go. It is very frustrating having to wait for the locks and going such short distances each day.

We entered the lock at 10 and were out of it at 10:30. It had been raining all morning, but it let up a little while we were locking. The rain is supposed to continue today and tomorrow. It is the remnants of Hurricane Gustaf.

We continued downriver and got to our second lock of the day. We didn’t have to wait very long for this one. Including us there were 6 boats that locked through. A few miles south of the lock was Ottawa. Ottawa has a 100’ free dock, enough room for 2 boats. There was only one boat there so we were fortunate to be able to tie up. We are within 4 blocks of groceries and restaurants and plan to eat out tonight. If it continues to rain, we may stay here another day.

The two boats we have been traveled with the last two days, Passport and Footloose had reservations in a marina tonight. We will probably run into with them again.

2 locks – total 80