Day 5 - The Blue Duck — Captain Father John

Miles traveled 38, locks transited 0, fuel purchased $212.00, gallons 63, dock fee $0

We departed Henry at 9:30 am and passed two up bound tows. The weather continues to be sunny and dry. We arrived in Peoria at 1:00 pm and fueled up at the IVY (Illinois Valley Yacht and Canoe Club). It was a narrow harbor entrance and very tight quarters to maneuver with strong winds.

Peoria has a public dock on the water front with many small slips and three long face docks. We took the face dock in front of the paddle wheel boat Spirit of Peoria. The signage states all boats must depart by 11:00 pm. Our Looper friends advise there is no enforcement of the curfew so we decided to take our chances and wait and see. Our only option would be to anchor on the other side of the river out of the way of the barge traffic.

Today had an auspicious occasion when Changing Latitudes had her first visitor on the Loop. Andy’s friend Karen met us at the boat and joined us for dinner. Karen taught school with Andy at Freemont in Mundlein. She recommended a wonderful new restaurant called the Blue Duck. It was a short walk from the dock.

Peoria is one of the oldest settlements in Illinois, as explorers first ventured up the Illinois River from the Mississippi. The lands that eventually would become Peoria were first settled in 1680, when French explorers René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Henri de Tonti constructed Fort Crevecoeur. This fort would later burn to the ground, and in 1813 Fort Clark, Illinois was built. When the County of Peoria was organized in 1825, Fort Clark was officially named Peoria.

Tomorrow we will go to a farmers market and craft show on the river bank directly above our boat. Then we will continue down river 42 miles to Tall Timbers Marina in Havana, Illinois.

There is a lot of wildlife on the Illinois River. Here is a white pelican and a blue heron.