Proud Lady Ottawa Illinois to Barkley Lake in Kentucky

Proud Lady’s Adventure to Her Temporary Home on Barkely Lake
From log notes by Captain Ken edited By Joy & Bill H. starting October 30 to November 5th
Trip Started: Starved Rock Marina,MM 233.5, Illinois River, Ottawa, IL
Trip Ended: Rottering Marine, MM43, Eddyville, KY

Day 1 Saturday October 30th MM 233.3 Leaving Starved Rock Marina- it was a beautiful sunrise as Proud Lady started on her voyage . Captain Ken and Bill pulled from Starved rock Marina onto the Illinois River. They arrived at Starved Rock Lock 0730; gates were open, so made good time locking through. All was good until right above the town of Henry they lost the port engine. Had to restart the engine a few times. Bill changed the fuel filters and got the air out if the lines. He got the engine going just as they got to Lake Peoria. It ran good but lost some travel time. They spent the night in downtown Peoria at the Municiple Dock. Mile Marker 62.5 Peoria River dock. No electric power we are running generator. They were very tired. Time 1620. Hope to do better tomorrow. They called it a day.

Day 2 Sunday October 31st Left Peoria city dock at 0815 weather is still good cool and sunny. Port engine still giving trouble. Passed Coon Hollow Island. Time 0952 MM 140.5. Time 1430 Passed by Browning Marina MM 97.5 at gas tanks; out of service so we didn‘t stop. Hoping to make it past La Grange Lock today. MM 80.2. Time 1420 made it to La Grange there is a double Tow/Barge locking through had to wait 2 hours. We didn’t need that! Its getting dark. Great! Having trouble with port engine again, transmission not going into reverse. Finally got thought the lock at 1748. Out of the lock and we are looking for anchorage running in the dark. Using flood lights to see the nuns and buoys to find our way. Finally anchored at MM 61.6 by a railroad bridge time 2015. Thank God for the radar and GPS. Fuel 25” port, 3.5” on starboard.

Day 3 Monday November 1st We were moving at 0725 Bill added oil into both engines and antifreeze to the port engine. The port engine ran a little warm at 190 degrees. Lost oil pressure starboard engine had to shut down Chief engineer Bill went down to the engine room again. A hose from the compressor had pushed out all the engine oil- Bill refilled the oil got the engine going. Thank God! Back to running at 8 knots, Hardin Illinois time 1147. MM 8.0 time 1312. Arrived on the Mississippi River MM 218.0 at 1405. Lost the Port engine, had to restart it after Bill talked to it for a few minutes. Made it to Alton Marina 1550 MM 203.0 , fueled up in the dock at 1615 it was still light out and very nice. Took on 111 gallons of fuel. Met Mark here he brought more tools and filters, antifreeze, oil to keep the ol’ girl running. Had a shower, dinner at “Fast Eddies”, and Good nights rest.

Day 4 Tuesday November 2nd MM 201 left out of Alton Marina 0705 another sunny cold morning and entered into the Melvin Price lock 0720-0750. 0830 entered into the Chain of rocks Canal. Lost the port engine again! Bill changed the filters we spun around out of control. No Port engine. Out of the lock at 0950 no fun here. Bill got the engine going again 1015 MM162.3. This time he changed the pre-filter to the port engine which had been overlooked since Racine, WI when the previous owner brought her down to Starved Rock Marina (this was the root of the port engine problem not running as it never missed a beat after that filter change). At 1144 Bill realized he’d missed seeing the arch in St. Louis MO. as he was in the engine room. Passed Hoppies’ Marine time 1202 MM 158.5, port engine running good. Running good at 11 knots. 1680 RPM’s we are at MM 147 on the Mississippi River. MM117.5 passed Kaskaskia
River; too early to stop. 1645 MM 102.3 River side of Rockwood Island there is a dredge working in the area. We had decided to anchor had to use 2 anchors current running fast. Bad idea; forward anchor let go over the stern. It took an hour to get the anchor back up and 2nd reset. Now we moved into calmer water but shallow. Bill worked hard and was exhausted . Hope we have a good night. (Met a Butthead on the river that didn’t want us to anchor near them as they wee afraid we would break loose again and bump his boat. Can‘t blame him he had a nice boat but his derogatory remarks were painful.)

Day 5 Wednesday November 3rd had trouble waking and getting up. Worked Bill hard again as the Mississippi current was a bear to contend with; but we got moving at 0650 ahead of the butthead. Time 0725 Port Engine running warm again 195 degrees slowed the RPM’s had to cool the port engine. 0800 time 1550 rpms running very good 10.4 knots. Started the Honda generator and charged the cell phones. MM44.0, RPM’s 1590 at 1134, temp 190 degrees on port engine. Cloudy and chilly but no rain yet. At 1208 still running good. 1408 running very good 13.7 mph very good due to the current on the ol’ Mississippi. MM00 at 1510. Lots of towboats on the Ohio MM 981. Passing Olmstead Lock still under construction. Trying to get to lock #53 . Arrived @1735 went over the dam, as the wickets were down, tried to stay there and asked lockmaster for permission to tie-up to lock wall, but they wouldn’t let us due to 9/11 and Homeland Security and Corp of Engineer’s ruling. Going on to MM 949.0 to anchor for the night its getting dark again. Speed is down to 6.2 knots running against the current on the Ohio. Ran in the dark until MM 949.0 dropped anchor @1950 had a very long day.

Woke at 0300 felt the boat moving wind has picked up. Boat had not broken loose from anchorage but wind had picked up and shifted us around running the bow up onto the sandy shore. Made sure everything was OK, slept again after that.

Day 6 Thursday November 4th Fuel 24.24 inches port, 4 inches starboard. MM # 949.0 got moving at 0650 hours next lock is 10 miles ahead. Lock # 52 on the Ohio must be at least 25 tows waiting to lock through we had to stop and wait. Wind is blowing, what a mess. 1045 wind is blowing we were the first into the lock. Interlude 2nd then 3rd a 30 ft Bayliner. Lock has no lines we had to use ours lines were not long enough we need longer than 25 foot. Out of the lock at 1155 MM 935.5 we are passing the Tennessee River and going on up to the Cumberland River and onto Lake Barkley. Wind is blowing hard at our back. 22.4 miles to Barkley lock. Finally onto the Cumberland River it is calm, and out of the wind. Water is deep but not too wide. Hope we don’t have to pass a tow. Time 1330 AND yes we did meet a tow MM 10.5 on a curve in the river, we had room, all went ok. Boat running good. 1750 RPM’s, 7.5 knots port engine a little warm but ok 195 degrees. Weather clouded over and cooled passing MM 24.4 time 1600 hours radio is quiet. Into Barkley lock time 1655 the rise in the lock 57 foot, lifted in about 15 minutes was out at 1715. We arrived at Green Turtle Bay Marina at 1715 Had a wonderful hot shower. Dinner at the restaurant. Another nice night plugged into electric with heat. Slept good.

Day 7 Friday November 5th Arrived at Rottegring Marine on Barkley Lake MM 43, where Bill will do needed repairs and upgrades on Proud Lady; planning to have her back into the water by February 2011. Captain Ken found a 44’ DeFever in the Rotterging Marine yard that had been sitting there for 3 years. She was beautiful and Ken got the contact information from Bobbie at the office in the hope of finding a good deal on her.

More Pictures in following post- thanks Joy

Our New Sarayu plus upcoming adventure

Well folks here she is! Our new Sarayu, actually her name will remain Proud Lady, but she will always be our Sarayu.

We searched long and hard from Tennessee to Illinois. Until we found the right trawler that would be perfect for our budget and style. Bill and I love the teak exterior and interior. It makes it feel classic and cozy. Our next project is restoring her and getting her ready for the LOOP. There's not a whole lot of work but the teak needs attention.

Then, she will be coming down from Illinois to Kentucky where she will find her permanent home on the beautiful waters of Kentucky Lake. Bill has hired a Captain to bring him and Proud Lady down the rivers who will train and drive and all in one trip. I however am not able to make the trip this time due to work responsibility. Keep them in your prayers for safety and an enjoyable trip.

If you ever get up to Ottawa Illinois its a beautiful little river town and the people are friendly. We attended a lecture given by Captain Moe at Heritage Harbor, about navigating the Illinois River. He gave an awesome lecture in a beautiful location. Ottawa could be the perfect place for retirement for some, but a good overnight place for us Looers. We toured Starved Rock state park. Visited with folks at Starved Rock Marina, ate at the Captains Cove restaurant, who serves very good food in a fun atmosphere. We watched the boats and barges locking through at Starved Rock Lock and Dam. If you like to read a good ghost story book for fall read, "Ghosts of the Illinois River." That kinda fits into the season. Happy fall ya all! JOY

The old is gone and we're searching for a new larger Sarayu

We are searching for a bigger boat. Here Bill is dreaming of a trawler at Green Turtle Bay in Grand Rivers, Kentucky. We do have a dream of owing a 36 foot Albin. There are so many great trawlers to choose from. What will the new Sarayu look like?

Power washing Sarayu before she meets her new owner. She was in great shape and ready for the next adventure.

This is our granddaughter enjoying the breeze being the "lookout" and helping grandpa Bill sail Sarayu on Kentucky Lake in July 2010.

Much has happened since our last post. We had great fun sailing this summer 2010 on Kentucky Lake. Sarayu sits in a slip in the most beautiful place in the world, Light house landing Grand rivers Kentucky. We had so much fun grabbing bits of fun on weekends then working during the week. However, we visited the Mississippi River in Cape Girardeau, MO. the Mississippi can be intimidating with whirls of water, barges leaving BIG wakes and swells so we decided we needed a bigger boat. SO... for our comfort and safety Sarayu was sold and has a happy new owner. Bill and I are searching for the new Sarayu. She will be a trawler, hopefully 36 foot, diesel engine and ready for the Loop.

Naming Sarayu

This weekend June 5th and 6th were very busy for Sarayu. Sarayu means to stream or flow. The name Sarayu also represents the Holy Spirit in the book "The Shack", by William P. Young . Sarayu our sailboat received her name in a christening ceremony. Our ceremony was one borrowed from an Internet site which we read aloud, the ceremony was funny and consisted of blessing our adventures and casting out the old name TiKi (and any devils that were aboard). Then Captain Bill poured the nectar of the gods (Welches' sparkling grape juice) over the bow (not breaking a bottle because of safety reasons.) We sailed on Saturday most of the day late into the evening. Kentucky lake was alive with motor vessels, pleasure craft and sailboats. I wasn't much help to Captain Bill because I am recovering from surgery so I sat like the admirable princess Joy enjoying the ride. We drafted family my sister Pam and her husband Mark for crew and enjoyed the help and every moment. Life is too short not to enjoy every moment and thank God for His marvelous creation.

The engine repairs were done and all went well for this weekend. We look forward to the next adventure. Will we ever make it to our destination of 20 miles below lighthouse landing? How long will that take in our little sailing vessel with its small 9 HP engine? Wait and see...

Loop adventure still in planning stages. We may surprise ourselves with things to come.

The delay in adventure.....

Our friend we met in Myrtle Beach rendezvous, Mary Ellen, s/v Indigo Lady, gave us advice "look at challenges and problems as opportunities". No words could have been more encouraging than the day we set out for our first sail of the summer. Let me paint you a mind picture. 2010 the Tennessee River is flooded out of its banks, but we were two very motivated and stubborn people willing to have fun while improving their sailing skills, weather forecast calls for thunder showers for the day. Bill and I left Light House Landing marina about 10:00 am headed for a destination of about 20 miles up Kentucky Lake. Big fat thunderheads mingled with brilliant sunshine fill the sky. We stop the engine and raise the sails for the first time this year. Here we are sailing along just as tranquil as we could get but, ever cautious of the surrounding conditions. Several sailboats were already out on the lake and they looked stunningly beautiful. We were about 2 hours into our adventure of the day when a black squall appeared threatening us with thunder and lightening. Several of the other sailing vessels lowered their sails and were already headed back to the marina. Bill made the decision that we should also return, so the sails were lowered and the engine once again started we headed back to our slip at Lighthouse Landing delaying today's adventure, because of weather and lake conditions. The engine had been running rough all day giving Bill concern that something could be wrong but thinking it just needed a good run, we opened it full throttle. About a mile south of our the marina the engine sputtered then stalled. By this time the little squall was over the sun out in full force it turned out to be a gorgeous day. Here we were just sitting in the middle of the Lake. We could raise the sail or call to the marina, Bill called and we were towed. (Just a plug for our friends, Marty & Brenda Colburn at Lighthouse Landing they are wonderful people.)
Long story short the diesel fuel needed drained, new fuel, new fuel filters and minor repairs its up and running again. Lesson learned: part of the yearly diesel maintenance is to drain and add new fuel and filters.
So Mary Ellen's advice "challenges and problems are only opportunities" proved to be true and probably will prove to be true many more times as we prepare for and do our Loop adventure . I thank God for keeping us safe, for our looper friends, and for the folks at Lighthouse Landing Marina.

The fever for adventure- sailing the great loop

Well!
Here we are, our adventure will begin in 1 year 6 months.
Our plans and dreams began after taking an ASA sailing course on coastal crusing, safety, and basic coastal navigation the summer of 2009. In the winter months after the purchase of Sarayu our 27ft Hunter s/v, Bill and I learned of the Great Loop and began reading anything pertaining to the loop and sailing. We joined America's Great Loop Cruising Association and the fever began. For Christmas 2009 we purchased, as gifts, guides and began exploring the loop by book.

The Fever really hit hard when we read,"Honey, lets Get a Boat" by Ron and Eva Stob and viewing Bob and Mavis Duthrie's , "Great Loop Adventure CD." We were hooked.

We then attended the Americas Great Loop Association rendevzous in spring 2010 and was inspired by many adventerous folk who are in the process and planning their own loop adventure. We were awed by the women who cruised the loop single handedly. We now feel grateful and blessed for meeting people who we can call our family with the same destination and spirit for adventure. Now we really have the fever.

Our Sarayu is very cozy inside, the cabin just right for the 2 of us. Our galley is adequate but is simple right next to "roughing it". She has a full head-shower and vanity sink.

This summers adventures include: improving our sailing skills,
explore Kentucky Lake and share our sailing fun with family and friends while we outfit our s/v for our year long adventure.