It was difficult finding a good weather window for leaving St.Joseph /Benton Harbor. We spent 3 nights there. While there, 2 people were swept off the breakwater. One survived, one was never found. 8' waves that day. We finally picked a so so but doable day. We rocked and rolled to the Cal Sag canal 50miles with 2-4'waves. Then we had to go through a huge industrial area and one lock for 20 miles more. We stayed at Marine Services in Dolton...very quiet in the middle of nowhere.
Next morning we had a long day going through 2 locks, rain, and terrifying narrow passages with barges and tugs, especially through Lemont, IL. We pulled up to the fuel dock at Harborside Marina, Wilmington, in pouring rain and lots of current. We did hit the dock on the starboard stern, but no damage. We were only allowed to stay there one night, as it was their fuel dock.
As John was checking the engine, as he always does, he noticed the water pump to the engine was leaking. What to do ???? We worried all night, used some rescue tape and prayed a lot. We had the Dresden Lock to go through and 20 miles to go to our final destination. We made it!! Tomorrow the Cummins guy is coming to check the engine and fix the water pump.
We are storing KNOTUGAL in Seneca, Il . at SpringBrook Haarbor. It has heated indoor storage. It's a very nice, well run marina on the Illinois River.
Last night Seneca was hit with torrential rain. They had the worst flash flooding in over 50 years. It washed out a nearby bridge and water was gushing all around us. Fortunately we are on a floating dock. We had no damage, but there was a lot of damage in the area.
We'll now leave the boat, drive to Brewerton,NY to pick up our car and drive back home. We'll come back to KNOTUGAL next Spring.
My niece, Julie, and her hubby Bill Lictenberg came to see us in Seneca.
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