Within 45 minutes of cruising, we come to our last lock on the Illinois River, The Lagrange Lock and Dam. The drop is usually about 10 feet.
Today, as it is a wicket gate lock and the river level is higher, we will not pass through the lock and dam, but pass over it. There is no wait involved and we navigate the area as open water.
While we did not have to request an opening for the lock, we do need to ask for an opening for the bridge ahead.
The river, while a little more choppy with white caps, is definitely calmer in the boat wake category as most vacationers have shut down their camps, packed up their toys and hauled out their boats, reluctantly heading home after this long holiday weekend.
Besides barges, the only other vessels on the river today are the ferry boats. As the bridges crossing the Illinois River are far and few between, the ferries are a necessary means of transportation for this rural population.
As we near Grafton, the Illinois River, and our journey of its 273 miles, from inception to end, is over. We are now in the mighty Mississippi River.
With the river at flood stage, the water current at Grafton, the point at which the Illinois River and the Mississippi River converge, is strong. It also appears to be a very active area for our buddies, the Asian Carp.
We arrive to Grafton and enter the marina. It appears their riverfront has succumbed to the flood waters.
The current is strong at the marina and docking gets tricky, but we arrive and tie up without incident. Grafton, Illinois is the self proclaimed Key West of the Midwest.
Grafton was not always just a miniature Key West. In the 1850’s, the population peaked with 10,000 inhabitants. Rich in the industries of stone quarries, boat building, and commercial fishing, the town thrived. As with many rural communities, time brings changes. The various industries, which provided the lifeline to their vibrant community and economy, either closed doors, moved, or just faded into oblivion.
In recent years, Grafton’s population remained steady at 1,000. The Great Flood of 1993 saw an exodus of nearly 1/3 of all residents as many businesses and homes were destroyed by the flood that peaked at 38.2 feet for 195 days (normal stage is 18 ft.). As Grafton was one of the rare river cities with no levee, the riverfront homes and businesses were decimated. Today, the homes have been moved up on the nearby hills and any riverfront developments will be such that they accommodates the river rises. The river now can come and go without harm, except for leaving the cleanup of muck and debris.
On our visit, the river is once again at flood stage. We watch the steady rise of the water daily.
Today, Grafton relies on tourism. The city prides itself as the center of the region for bald eagle watching, hailing itself as the winter home for the bald eagle.
The bald eagle isn’t the only game in town.
As it is a tourist town, we hop on what likely is the number one visitor attraction. This is the Sky Tour which takes you up the hill to the Aerie Resort. Here, there is lodging, a coaster, a zipline and a gift shop. We will ride the Sky Tour to the top and have lunch at the Terrace Restaurant.
We can even spot Prime 11.
Unfortunately, most of our time here was in the rain, thanks to the remnants of hurricane Beryl.
On our last day, we were able to walk around the downtown area. Like Key West, there are some characters who call this town home.
While they do have some interesting bars like Key West, they can be counted on one hand unlike Key West, where a calculator is required.
We venture down by the riverfront and come across the old boatworks building. This building, in its day, was the machine and paint shop for paddle wheelers and later for PT (patrol torpedo) boats.
Today, the boatworks building has been repurposed. Now it is a flea market, open every last weekend of the summer months, a riverfront restaurant called The Loading Dock, and a skating rink in the winter.
We had a pleasant stay in Grafton, despite the flood waters and drenching rain.
Next stop: Port Charles Marina, Missouri, for boat repair.