I would like a couple of weeks to work on the boat and get some stuff done before she hits the water. Then, I want to move the boat south of the Illinois lock closures on the IL River. The COE (US Army Corp of Engineers) is closing three locks this year to do some maintenance on them. If you are interested feel free to run over to the website, Illinois Waterway Consolidated Lock Closures.

We don’t plan on continuing the Great Loop and heading to the KY Lakes until mid-August. I would prefer early August, Rita would prefer late August, so I am going on record to say mid-August! LOL!! 🙂

Now, when I say “KY Lakes” I really mean the Cumberland River, Kentucky Lake, and the Land Between the Lakes National Recreation area. We will take side trips to Nashville (on the Cumberland River) and Chattanooga (on the Tennessee River.) Maybe all the way up to Knoxville…that depends on how much time we have.

The locks are scheduled to be open September 30, but unknown delays could push it back and there may be barges lined up that would put a delay to recreational boats as well. Plus, I don’t want WI to say we are back living in WI, so I need to make sure our stay in WI isn’t too long. I am sure Gov. Evers wants some of our pension money and I don’t want to give it to him!!