Through the Barrier

Day 41, September 12, 2009
Shortly after leaving the wall the Coast Guard met us on the waterway and handed us a pamphlet about the safely regulations we must use to pass the fish barrier. When we arrived at the fish barrier another coast guard boat was there to meet us. We had to phone another Coast Guard person and get a second authorization after answering a bunch of questions!! Then that officer called the coast guard guy in the boat beside us and he called us on the radio and told us we could proceed!!! Had to remain seated on the boat with life jackets on. If anything was to fall overboard we were not to retrieve it, all hands to remain in the vessel, if the engine quit we were to float through and just bounce off the walls without any use of boat hooks etc.!!! All very melodramatic!!! After agreeing to take the risk ourselves we were allowed to go through, one boat at a time. It was totally anticlimatical!!! Didn't feel a thing. We did switch off the main power before entering and it came on okay immediately we were through!!!

A short few miles further on brought us to Joliet, IL, having passed through 2 locks. One was pretty interesting with a drop of 39 feet. Arrived at Joliet's free boat dock and tied up, with free hydro. Have spent the afternoon at the library getting caught up with the Blog!!!