We picked up a Pirate
24-Jun-2021 Thursday Mariners Marina, Seneca IL to IVY Club, Peoria IL(73.9 nautical miles 85.1 statute miles)
40°44’55.5″N 89°33’25.0″W
40.748751, -89.556953
Elevation: 440 feet Elevation change: -44 feet
States (1): Illinois
Locks (2):
Mile 244.6, Marseilles Lock
Mile 231.0, Starved Rock Lock & Dam
Along the Way
An armada of vessels from Mariners Marina is leaving today for a weekend in Peoria. We joined the fleet. The group assembled for coffee at 5:30 AM. Butch called the Peoria lock master and he told us to wait for an hour before we headed down. There were a couple tow boats and barges already in the queue.
Vince the Pirate, his son Michael and Dale
We were off. yes dear… and four other boats. We picked up a pirate. Vince the Pirate is on board and riding with us to Grafton. Welcome aboard maty!
Heading out of Mariners Marina 
Vince the Pirate at the helm. There is no vessel this guy can’t pirate. 
Marseilles Lock. Our first and last lock of the day and we had a green permission light to enter. The Lock Master personally greeted Butch over VHF. Butch had worked on the lock for 6 months when it was down for repair last year.
24 feet drop 
entering 
Who’s that gray haired old lady???? 
Vince the Pirate taking yes dear… in 
Michael on the lines, Ryan supervising, Butch at the helm 
Rafting up The Fat Cat 
takes finesse 
moving in for the off
Out and on our way
Buffalo Rock 
Starved Rock Lock
Starved Rock 
Starved Rock Lock 
new doors last year, 2020
Onward
twins 
Bone Yard 
more pickings 
casino boat 🙁 
Peoria Lake
Illinois Valley Yacht (IVY) Club
IVY Club 
How’s it hanging Mariners Marina crew? 
Niki and Jake (They got engage here last year)
We checked out Rizzi’s, a local Italian eatery. Great food!
Floccinaucinihilipilification
There are various local legends about how Starved Rock got its name. The most popular is a tale of revenge for the assassination of Ottawa leader Pontiac, who was killed in Cahokia on April 20, 1769, by an Illinois Confederation warrior. According to the legend, the Ottawa, along with their allies the Potawatomi, avenged Pontiac’s death by attacking a band of Illiniwek along the Illinois River. The Illiniwek climbed to the butte to seek refuge, but their pursuers besieged the rock until the tribe starved to death, thereby giving the place the name “Starved Rock”. Apart from oral history, there is no historical evidence that the siege happened.
Drolleries and Yuks
Why are claustrophobics so creative?
~ Because they are always thinking outside of the box