Kuchie’s On the Water and Logsdon Tug Service

Kuchie’s On the Water and Logsdon Tug Service

Sunday, October 22 and Monday, October 23

Captain Pat enjoying Kuchie’s famous milkshakes. The chocolate one is for the Admiral.

Kuchie’s on the Water Restaurant

We leave Henry Harbor and at Fran’s suggestion we head to Kuchie’s On the Water in Creve Coeur, Illinois. This restaurant is famous for creamy thick milkshakes and a Bloody Mary that serves as a meal. They offer free overnight docking if you dine there.

‘Summer Fling,’ a Grand Banks owned by Frank and Mona, docked at Kuchie’s

Sunshine pulls into the dock around 3 p.m. We recognize a Looper coming to help us – Frank from Summer Fling, also in our Flotilla #12. He and his wife Mona are dining outside on the patio. He asks us to join them but Captain Pat has boat tasks to do.

The Admiral enjoys her favorite – catfish!

We do make it to Kuchie’s around 5 p.m. for dinner. This place is reminiscent of Key West.

This pirate greets you at Kuchie’s

The portions are huge – we leave with plenty for tomorrow night’s dinner. The milk shakes live up to their reputation! Just like a New England frappe – it requires a spoon.

Now that’s a milkshake! The bartender and her son are in the background.

The bartender (we are at a booth adjacent to the bar) is talking to her son who is sitting on a barstool. We strike up a conversation. She tells us she hates the cold, loves the sun and sand, and is heading to Florida to live. Already has a job, working at a blood donation center. She’s trying to talk her twenty something son into joining her – he wants nothing of it. Seems like people either love Florida or hate it. We wish her well.

“Summer Fling’ and tugboats docked at Kuchie’s

Logsdon Tug Service

The next morning, we follow Frank and Mona on Summer Fling and another boat down to the Logsdon Tug Service, located in Beardstown. Some Loopers are stopping overnight at Mel’s Diner, near Peoria. We decide to add a few more miles to our day and make it to Logsdon Tug Service.

Huge tugboat and barge, on the way to Logsdon

The barges are enormous. The pictures don’t capture how immense they are.

We saw many houses along the Illinois River, some on stilts.

Logsdon is a barge that boats raft up to. We are wondering if there will be enough room at the Tug Service. Captain Pat is in conversation with Jim on Acadia – “if Logsdon is full, where would you go? I hear one of the best comments ever for the Loop:

“There is always an alternative.”

You got that right. We learn some of the boats are anchoring out in lieu of Logsdon Tug. We will all convene tomorrow morning to travel through the next Lock.

I post some photos of Logsdon on Facebook, to which someone responds, “looks like they have cleaned up their barge floor.” Really?

Stairs you climb to exit the barge and walk into the town of Beardstown.

The stairs are a scary climb. Some Loopers are going to the Mexican restaurant for $1.88 margaritas. Hope they do not have too many. These steps are a challenge when sober. Might be a safety hazard when inebriated.

Neill taking his dog Buddha to the Mexican restaurant.

We raft up to a couple from Killarney, Ontario. Neill and Jody are on a Monk 36 – Antonio. I’m especially enthralled with their pooch, Buddha. Buddha, I’m told, is not too fond of visitors and takes his job as the boat guard dog quite seriously. Buddha goes everywhere with his owner, Neill. So, Buddha will have Mexican tonight too!

Captain Pat ordered this portable propane heater from Amazon, and had it delivered to Chicago.
Good purchase! We will be using as we cruise down the rivers to Florida.

The night before, anchored out at Kuchie’s, Captain Pat turned on our new portable propane heater, to take the chill out of the cabin. It worked well. It does not have a regulator though, so Pat slept with one eye open all night and didn’t get much sleep. That is not a good thing.

Beardstown

After cruising all day, Captain Pat is exhausted and needs a well-deserved nap. The Admiral takes a walk into the little town of Beardstown. Abraham Lincoln and eagles have a presence here – two of my favorite things.

Here are some pictures of the great metropolis of Beardstown.