one pissed off american

Alton, IL - A pitstop of sorts, if you want to call it so

2011-10-23T15:47:00.000-05:00

The cold is coming in like a lion. The temperature on the water is about 10º lower than the low for the day. When it's raining on top of that, then it's more like an elements smorgasbord. Plus, the certainty of motor #3 hasn't been fully explored. One day at a time.

Image by Google Earth used under its Creative Commons license.

Hardin, Illinois - Interview for. . .a local paper

2011-10-18T13:20:00.000-05:00

Just finished an interview with the Calhoun News-Herald. A picture will follow in the next few days.

Hardin, Illinois - New prop and the Hardin Hotel

2011-10-17T17:20:00.000-05:00

So, the propeller on this motor is really worn down. It must be the original one that was with the motor. The propeller will have to be replaced in the next day or so.

In the meantime, the Hardin Hotel is where I will be, chatting with the locals when time allows and resting to stave off the effects from being in this weather.

Florence, Illinois - Farewell

2011-10-17T11:24:00.000-05:00

After about 2 weeks of being down because of malfunctioning equipment and a small series of events, a farewell to Florence, Illinois is in order.

Just moving along at about 7 miles per hour and seeing where the next stop will be. Onward and off.

Florence, Illinois - Historic Florence Guest House

2011-10-17T04:18:00.001-05:00

During some of the down time here in Florence, Illinois, for a few days, residence was being kept at the Historic Florence Guest House. Lincoln visited there. Cozy and quaint.

Image by Historic Florence Guest House used under its Creative Commons license.

Florence, Illinois - Note to self

2011-10-13T10:33:00.000-05:00

Don't mix bleach and hull cleaner. Also pay careful attention to the resulting gases. A lesson was learned. That was rough. Now, to finish with this "flower pot".

Florence, Illinois - Night of the Living Boat Motor

2011-10-12T04:25:00.000-05:00

And here we are.

Motor #2 - Needless to say, the 1985 25 hp Mercury boat motor was a dud. Bad carburetor. Dead as a doornail. Traded it back.

Motor #3 - Next up is the 1995 25 hp Evinrude boat motor. It started like a charm. We're back on track.

Now, to wait for funds to catch up a little, then it's on the move again.

Florence, Illinois - 16 ft Rebel

2011-10-10T13:58:00.000-05:00

On to boat #3. Remember that down tree that was hit 8 days ago? After careful inspection, damage was seen on the bottom of the boat that has gone about 270 miles since this journey has begun.

So, boat #3 and motor #3 is where it stands.

It had trees growing in it and gallons of dirt. Luckily a local didn't mind if I took it off of their hands (not freely of course).

It's 16 feet and "Rebel" is on the side. It's the kind of boat. Not me.

Florence, Illinois - A little down time.

2011-10-02T23:16:00.000-05:00

The motor fell off of the boat after it hit a down tree. So, there will be a few days used to finish some alterations that were left from Henry, Illinois while looking into getting another motor.

Peoria, Illinois - Pit stop, waiting at the lock.

2011-10-01T22:01:00.000-05:00

Thank you Ed (of the Army Corps of Engineers in Peoria) for the coffee, at another lock.

Chillicothe, Illinois - Making a little more headway

2011-10-01T11:28:00.000-05:00

A steamboat while leaving Chillicothe, IL and heading to the mouth of the Peoria Dam. 9.7 miles an hour.

Cruising along.

2011-09-30T12:51:00.000-05:00

Just leaving Henry, Illinois and cruising at 9 miles an hour. Waves and wind are picking up. 2-4 foot waves. 25 miles an hour.

I met a guy named Bob. . .

2011-09-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

Bob Hankins. Nice and helpful.

Henry, Illinois - Henry Harbor Inn

2011-09-26T12:09:00.000-05:00

While at the Henry Harbor Inn, recouping after 3 days of rain and some modifications of the prototype have to be made over the next few days.

Hopefully there will be enough donations to complete the second outrigger in St. Louis, Missouri.

Hennepin, Illinois - An impromptu carp meeting. . .

2011-09-25T20:36:00.000-05:00

Just coasting along, minding my own business.

Wham. Then another wham. Followed by many more. Encountering what I'd only heard stories of. A sea of them and they were hitting the boat and some of them were landing.

It was dark and I had a few lights on, for obvious reasons. The huge barge shining the light caused such a stir. It was insane. One fish, if that's what you want to call it, even hit me on the knee and landed by my feet. Another one hit one of the lights and broke the lens, so that light is no more.

Imagine my thoughts as they zipped by, left and right.

It taught me a real good lesson. I might want to invest in a hardhat/helmet and an umpire's vest.

Thanks to Dave of the Hennepin Fire Department and the Sheriff's Department for allowing me to make an emergency docking, after being attacked by 400-500 Asian carp.

On a more serious note, the line is being drawn in Hennepin, Illinois, where people are trying to stop the Asian carp from getting into the locks. If any are allowed to migrate to the Great Lakes, starting in Lake Michigan, there will be no way to stop them.

So far, little has worked. Their populations explode so dramatically, that they kill off native fish and choke the waterways and something needs to be done. They start off at about 3-5 inches to 4-5 feet and weigh anywhere from 25-80 pounds before they die. Their maiming and existence has become a nuisance down the Mississippi River and almost to the Great Lakes. At the moment, all attempts have failed.

Seneca, Illinois - Katie Hooper staff - Thanks

2011-09-24T23:51:00.000-05:00

Still raining. It has been, on and off, since I started yesterday. It's being relentless at the moment. Thanks to the Katie Hooper staff for allowing me to dock.

45 foot lock

2011-09-23T23:15:00.000-05:00

The trip started with plenty of rain, headwinds, and high waves.

Thanks to the Army Corps of Engineers (the people that maintain the locks), for words of encouragement, a hot cup of coffee in 40º temperatures which stopped hypothermia and allowed the trip to continue.

20 miles outside of chicago

2011-09-23T18:18:00.000-05:00

Coming from Chicago, to the industrial area, entering the locks.

Redux

2011-09-19T21:21:00.000-05:00

So, the last few days have been spent purchasing another boat, any lost electronics, food, and materials that are needed to do this trip, that were lost with the first boat.

The original startup before the capsizing was $11,000 with 14-16 hours a day of work being put into it. After the capsizing, another $4,000 had to be used for the replacements.

Now, the following days will include working many hours to alter the boat and make certain adjustments and custom tweaks. Lots of bolting, polyurethane coating, shopping, brainstorming, and shuffling, to name a few things.

Thanks to Jeff's Marine Service, Inc. for a diligent job, working on the 9.9 Johnson motor that was submerged in water overnight. He charged a fair price for a swift and thorough task.

First prototype - Beast (canoe) - Capsized

2011-09-17T10:12:00.000-05:00

On the afternoon of September 10th, 2011, the first departure of this trip was cut short near Navy Pier, in Chicago, Illinois.

Beast, the first prototype, was destroyed by a 4 story cruiser that circled the canoe and almost jeopardized the trip. There were waves measuring between 8-10 feet, causing irreparable damage that was estimated at $3,000.

I would like to thank boat 688 from the Chicago Fire Department and the Chicago Police Department for their prompt help in retrieving the wreckage.

coming soon.

2011-09-13T10:12:00.001-05:00

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