20 Oct Day 36& 37 The end of the Illinois River

After a quiet night at anchor behind Diamond Island we were awakened by some hunters racing by and hooting just before sunrise.  It was a beautiful still morning on the river.

Roughly 25 miles later we saw some turbulence in the water and got a little kick from the side and realized we had reached the point where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi River at Grafton Illinois.

We learned in Looper School that the size of the Tows would increase when we got to the Mississipi but also would the width of the river. We were not disappointed,

The scenery also grew.

We stayed two nights in the Alton Marina. They put Nautoncall in a covered slip, she has never been so spoiled.

We had a great time in Alton. Met new Looper frineds,

Including a couple who’s youtube videos we had watched while preparing for the Loop. https://www.whatyachttodo.com/

That night a large group of us went to the Ragin Cajun piano bar where we stayed up way past “Looper Midnight”.

The next day we did some chores, laundry, engine maintenance and such. Had a hot tub with the Watsons.

I even swan in the pool just co I could say I did. It was pretty cool. What was really cool was that the entire marine, docks, bathrooms, office and even the pool were built on floating platforms that could rise up and down with the Mississippi floods.

That night we took an Uber to a historic Illinois hot spot, Fast Eddies Bon Air.

The place was amazing, cheap food ($2.97 burgers) cheap beer and a constant party atmosphere.

It sells more beer than any one else in the entire state of Illinois. They even bought the street from the city and turned it into a covered patio to get more people in.
It was a good weekend in Alton and a needed rest stop for the days ahead when we are to head down the Mighty Mississippi.