9/10-9/15 Illinois River

The Illinois River ended up being much more interesting after leaving the more industrious area near Chicago. 

On the the 12th we were at our western most part of the trip (90 38.30'). We anchored off of Buckhorn Island

 to take Shaina ashore to do her 'thing'. There we met some locals who we became fast friends with. 

We continued on to Grafton IL  the next day and spent a couple of days relaxing.

 Grafton is a small river town that has reinvented itself.  Despite some severe floods, it still has some of the original buildings including the Ruebel Bar where patrons went into the burning building to save the bar. 

The Grafton Harbor marina is huge. All of the docks covered and uncovered, the restaurant 

and drumming pool float. 

As soon as we left Grafton we were on the Mississippi.