Rumblefish - Our Great Loop Adventure

Rumblefish - Our Great Loop Adventure Join us as we travel over 6000 miles around the Eastern US on our 41’ Maxum.

09/08/2026

6:30am on a Tuesday morning. RumbleFish, Epic, and Grateful pass two tows on the Illinois River.

09/08/2026

RumbleFish raised the anchor as the day was just beginning. Head on down the Illinois River with Grateful and Epic.

Hennepin, IL to Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY), Peoria, ILWarning! Scenes of carnage!Our dock at Hennepin left a lot t...
09/06/2026

Hennepin, IL to Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY), Peoria, IL

Warning! Scenes of carnage!

Our dock at Hennepin left a lot to be desired. The dock were not in very good condition. Our shore power and water hookups were located far away from our position, so we were running extensions. There were no amenities on-site such as laundry, diner, pool, etc. and yet we paid almost double the going rate for our stay.

Heading down towards Peoria, we managed to surprise every Asian carp in the river. When they get spooked, they jump. Asian carp are big fish. Some get up to fifteen pounds or more! And they jump high! They jump high enough to clear the sides of our 3’ aft cockpit bulkhead! Several times we heard loud thumps, and found huge carp flopping around in our aft cockpit! 🐟

09/06/2026

RumbleFish got to experience a new way of locking today. Entering the Peoria Lock, we were given the option to float free in the pool while they lowered the pool level. Usually we are tied off on some form of floating bollard or secured to lines cleared to the sides of the lock.

09/05/2026

RumbleFish passing a fifteen barge tow on the Illinois River. Passing on the two-whistle, a starboard to starboard pass.

Ottawa, IL (Heritage Harbor) to Hennepin, ILIt’s a whole different kind of cruising. Different rules. Different things t...
09/05/2026

Ottawa, IL (Heritage Harbor) to Hennepin, IL

It’s a whole different kind of cruising. Different rules. Different things to watch out for. Different anchoring. Life on the river just happens differently.

We spend more time communicating with barge tows, arranging lock passages, and requesting bridge openings. On the river, we describe a passing as “one whistle” or “two whistles” depending on which side of the boat we pass on - port to port or starboard to starboard.

As we pass some of these massive tow boats pushing a half dozen barges, we have to be extremely careful of the prop wash. We can get spun around even hundreds of yards past a tow boat that’s pushing hard!

09/05/2026

We’ve been experiencing a lot of high temperatures here as summer maintains its hold on the Illinois River. Trying to beat the heat, we got an early start from Hennepin, IL this morning and had the river to ourselves.

Joliet Free Wall, Joliet, IL to Heritage Marina, Ottawa, ILTwo big items on our radar this week. First, we’re going to s...
09/04/2026

Joliet Free Wall, Joliet, IL to Heritage Marina, Ottawa, IL

Two big items on our radar this week. First, we’re going to see some warm temperatures every day for the next couple of days. We’re talking mid-90’s! Second, we’re rapidly approaching the Labor Day weekend. The last “party weekend” of the summer. Anticipating high temperatures and a party on the river, we’re making plans to stay in marinas (where we can have easy access to power for our air conditioning), and a safe place to avoid the party boats.

Leaving Joliet, we get to see the Illinois River as it transitions from a very industrial waterway, to more commercial use. There are still a lot of industries lining the river, but we’re seeing the industry give way to the barge traffic. And in between, there are beautiful stretches of river.

09/04/2026

Another warm day of cruising on the Illinois River. Temperatures are going to get up to 94° today! Thankful for a cool breeze while we cruise past Starved Rock State Park.

09/01/2026

Continuing our Great Loop, RumbleFish is heading southwest on the Illinois River today.

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