Grafton, IL.

Grafton has been an interesting stop.  Grafton Harbor Marina is very nice, with a hot tub that came in handy since the temp plunged into the 40s.  Grafton is a town of about 650 people, and bills itself as a tourist town.  We only found a few “wineries” that call themselves restaurants.  Really, they are just bars with hamburgers, etc.  So we rented a car and toured St Charles, MO (across the Mississippi), and it really is a neat tourist town with shops, restaurants and a Lewis and Clark museum.  We also visited Alton and Springfield, IL.  At Springfield, we toured the Abraham Lincoln Museum and Library, a very well done place.  During the 1 ½ hour drive to Springfield we passed through miles of corn fields and agricultural interests.  We are truly in the “bread basket” of America. 

We had about 6” of rain in two days, and the river is raging, but should be ok tomorrow.  We will enter the Mississippi and head to the famous Hoppies Marina tomorrow. It is the only marina (several barges tied together on the river bank) on our Mississippi River route, and run by Madam Fern, who by all accounts is quite a character.  Stay tuned!

Gotta love this guy's roof.

I wonder what the neighbor thinks?

Confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers.  

We posed with the Lincolns!  This was a really well done museum and I highly recommend it if close to Springfield, IL.  

St Charles, MO history.

Lewis and Clark.  

This would be great decor for the boys' duck camp!