Talisman 2020

 Great 1st night at anchor - woke up to light rain  - slept like a rock. Brother and Sister-In-Law, Dave and Ann Galick, joined us for the Peoria to Alton run. Ran in rain on and off all day entering the Mississippi River at Grafton, IL . Mile Marker (MM) "0" on the Illinois River - MM #217.9 on the Mississippi. Light rain turned to torrential rain and NO visibility for 20 minutes. Radar and AIS ( Automatic Identification System ) came in very handy. Arrived safe and sound at 3:30 PM in Alton Marina, having traveled 183 miles in 2 days. We are staying here approximately 2 1/2 months

 Departed IV Yacht Club and planning on 2 days on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers traveling to Alton Marina. We spent  our first night on the anchor at "Norfolk Southern RR Bridge" - 106 miles.

 Because of several Illinois Lock Closures due to rebuilds, we must get south prior to July 1. We have decided to stage in Alton Marina for the summer.  We are leaving Spring Brook Marina, Seneca, IL, our home port at 7 AM heading to IV Yacht Club in Peoria, IL. Trip uneventful - we went thru two locks - Marseilles and Starved Rock with very little delay. There was almost no boat traffic. We arrived at IV at 3:00 PM having traveled 84 miles.