Monday, November 9, 2015

Falling Towards Winter

With the exception of a few days we've had a pretty mild Fall here in NW Illinois. Pam & I have been passing the time by standing on the local marinas fuel docks trying to catch a ride just to get on the river one last time before the snow flies.

I'm happy to report that our strategy worked a couple of times!

When we weren't begging for boat rides we filled our time with family, friends, and taking in the area sights that we often take for granted.

Grandkids on their best behavior.

Pam cheering on the Packer's!

Convertible ride with Mike & Nancy.

View of the Mississippi and Garnet Lake from Pikes Peak (Iowa) State Park.

A favorite stop in Prairie Du Chien, Wisconsin.

Apple season in Gays Mills, Wisconsin. Love those Honey Crisp.

Checked out the Wiener Dog Races at Galena's Oktoberfest.

Used the family card and spent a day on the water with Ange & Doug.

Took the munchkins to the UW Platteville Homecoming Parade.

Ava, Franklin, & Ellie had sticker fever after the parade at Mike & Nancy's.

Of course Pam didn't want to be left out!

We managed to snag a dinghy ride up the Galena River and a night on the water.

Galena River.

Rafting up the Galena River from our anchorage.

View of our hometown, Galena.

Another beautiful river sunset.


We have found that Pam's thumb is more appealing than mine when trying to hitch a ride! She managed to score an overnight trip with Mike & Nancy to Guttenberg.

Choppy waters above Lock 11.

Two Hot chicks and a Dixie.


Kurt & Tina's boat, "Perseverance" at the dock in Guttenberg.


Guttenberg Municipal Marina.

Southbound tow flanking out of Lock 10.


Our hosts, Mike & Nancy.

Before long it was time to carve the pumpkins for Halloween.

Ellie & Franklin digging in with an assist from Reba & Melonie.

The finished product.


The Mouseketeer's with Great Grandma Vada.

That same weekend I hopped a ride on Vagabond as a deckhand for the 53 mile journey to Island City Harbor in Sabula, Iowa where she will be hauled out and stored inside their building for the winter.

Fall colors near Dubuque.

Empty barges headed north for the harvest season.

Ski runs of Chestnut Mtn. near Galena soon to be covered in snow.

Trying to wedge ourselves between the barge and the red buoy. We made it with room to spare.

We had no wait at the Sabula RR Bridge!

Pam & Lu chased us in the car and brought treats to help cushion the impact of the end of season.

Until next year!

Of course since we were that close to Savanna, Il. we had to make a stop at Manny's for taco's & pizza! Yumm!

Boating season in the upper Midwest is certainly over as evidenced by the empty slips and covered boats.

We see this sight at Frentress Lake Marina which is just down the hill from our house every time we venture out of the neighborhood.

With only a week or so to go before Pam & I head south we are busy getting things organized for our absence. We're also thinking about what we need to take with us. For me that hasn't really happened yet. For Pam it starts with the shoes!