While Lambert Laker and others were at a boat show, I went boating this weekend. It was the Wharf Harbor Yacht Club's annual Red Flannel Cruise to Henry, Illinois.

The sign:


The historical significance of the place:



Alex and I left after work on Friday night, leaving the harbor in Peoria around 6:20pm. We followed two club members up, lead boat was a 21' Crownline cuddy, and the middle boat is a guy's "new" 07 Rinker 250:





Okay, so you see this little 2.5 year old boy, Hunter, and you think, that little red chair is perfect for him:




Except the red chairs belonged to this guy and he had been excited that he finally found chairs that would fit in his dock box! Yep, until he removed it from thr bag on Friday night he didn't know he bought two toddler chairs! But in his proudness, he sat in his chairs all weekend!

So Saturday dawned at about 55 degrees, so we took a little day trip the remaining 35 miles or so to the next actual lock, Starved Rock Lock and Dam. This time the lead boat from Friday and his Admiral rode on Mike's Rinker 250:



It was nice and sunny when we left at noon. But it got cloudy at times and was not real warm the whole time (I think the high temp was 72):


But the group was all there on Saturday night and we had a nice fire:


Here are all the boats (except mine) tied up in the old lock:


In case you wondered, this is how many kids can fit in the back of an Expedition to watch Monsters Inc:

My son:



And he's an early riser. So here is how today dawned, about 6:15am:



And here is what was going on:



Nothing, only one other guy was up, and he wasn't off his boat, yet!

I left around 10:30am, after several boats. Here are the ones I passed on the 1 hour trip home.

Emma D:


The Bounty:


River Runner:



Cats in the Hatt:

Great shots BillyB. Looks like everyone had a great time, even the dude with the kindergarten chairs! Thanks for the pics.

Looks like a great time!

Did you see any Asian carps flying out of the water?

Of course, that happens every time we go out. The boat in front of me on the way up scared a couple up, even in 18-20 feet of water (which is not the norm).

great pics! looks like your son enjoyed himself.

Very Nice. Just beat them carps back with a baseball bat!

No, Deepv, here's how you handle the carp:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyPaxIpoyM0

I could watch that for hours, I swear, 2Suns!

That looks fun. Is that legal?

Shooting jumping fish that is waaaaaay coooooooooool.Sort of reminds me of a scene in the movie Second Hand Lions.
Ardy

Heck Yea! C'mon over, and we'll show ya! (insert dueling banjos here)

Seriously, they are not exactly a game fish. No limit, anything goes. And if you want some, come and get 'em. There is plenty for everyone.

Snagging is also popular. I have a friend that uses a big salt water rod and reel with a treble hook the size of a beer can to snag the buggers.

Billyb, thanks for sharing the cruise
The kids in the back of the car watching the movie - that is classic