Rivers to Joliet - Part 2

Tow Barge traffic is new to us. A tow is the type of boat whose function is to push non-powered barges. Same idea as a semi-tractor/trailer, but on the water. However these tows can push 12 or 15 or 18 barges at once. 😬  And it is our job to stay out of their way. Here’s a video of a tow pushing barges: Tow pushing barges

We went through an area of electric fish barriers which are keeping the Asian carp out of the upper rivers.  It sounds like if you get in the water, you’ll get shocked. Good reason to stay in the boat. 

For our night in Joliet, Illinois, we stayed on the free wall in Joliet that also had power for our air conditioning.  There were 10 Looper boats and one of them had a drone to take pictures.  Taurus is the second boat from the left.  

We had a potluck dinner and got to meet everyone.  

We are getting into the big boat locks. The tows and barges use them and they get first priority. Recreational boats are last priority. However, there is a rule that we don’t have to wait more than 3 lock-throughs. But on one lock today, we were waiting in a group of 8 pleasure boats for 4 and a half hours for one tow with 18 barges to lock through!    

8 boats anchored waiting for the lock

There were only 3 places to tie up 8 boats in the lock, so we had to raft up together. When we raft together, there is a boat on the lock wall (or at anchor), and the next boat ties to it, then the next and so on. We rafted four together in the lock today. Taurus is the second boat from the right.  We are starting at the top of the lock.

Near the bottom of the lock after we went down 20 ft.

They have an interesting way of tying to the lock wall here. It’s called a floating bollard.  Basically you take a line from your boat, wrap it around the bollard, then wrap the line on your boat cleat, and the bollard moves up or down in the lock wall, just as your boat does. It’s a great invention, way better than hanging on lines like we did in the Erie Canal.