October 17-18, 2009 Alton Marina

October 17-18, 2009

Alton Marina, IL (202.9)

We woke to sunshine at 7:00 and dusted off our caps and sunglasses even though we continued to need several layers of clothing. We cleaned Grateful today on the inside and things are much better. She needs a washing on the outside, but that may have to wait until warmer weather.

The TV saga continued. Mark disassembled the satellite dish and moved it to the front of the boat. We got good reception and ESPN claimed to have the Gopher game on at 2:30. So we watched the WI game ahead of it, and our TV posted a note that due to some regulations they could not broadcast the Gopher game. Steam started to emerge from Mark’s ears. He couldn’t understand how we could have a TV package paying for local channels and not be able to get them. This problem was going to be the same on Sunday for the Vikings. So on Sunday, Mark was on the phone to Direct TV again. It seemed he had plenty of offers for us to buy sports packages for a lot more money. Finally, he was connected to a lady that asked for our zipcode and Marina address, and she connected us with the Alton, IL, area local channels. We were able to watch the last half of the Viking game and we now know how to ask for the channels we need the next time we stop.

We met a couple, Jim and Debbi of the yacht, Emily E, at the Alton Marina. They live in Minnetonka, but have their beautiful Ocean Alexander in Sturgeon Bay, WI. By chance we had met them at West Marine in Minnetonka before we left and wondered if we would see them along the way. They were waiting for a friend to join them so had been in the marina for a couple of days. Sunday night we were going to dinner with them to have what they called, “the best pizza on the river”. When we walked up, the restaurant was closed so we stopped at the biker bar a block down the street. Scary/Funny. The customers had been there for awhile, and we wondered how they would be able to ride their beautiful bikes home. We were told about the ghosts of Alton by a biker who was a Stephen King look-alike. Then I was called over by two guys whose eyes were a little glazed over, and they proceeded to tell me that I was the best looking woman in the bar for an “old chic”. I had to laugh and consider the source – Mark said it might be my next nickname. We went on to Subway, bought sandwiches and ate them on Emily E. Fun time.

Freeport has been adjusting day by day and now knows that “chores” are important to do when we are out because stops are few and far between. Alton is a great place to stop for Port because we can go for long walks and there is a great waterfront park where he can run and retrieve for me. Still getting on and off the boat are troublesome because we have to lift him off. He doesn’t like that part and shakes badly until his feet are on the ground.

The town of Alton has claims to have ghosts from Civil War times, and it was a site for a prison that held Confederate soldiers in 1862-63. During that time the plague broke out and killed over 220 soldiers held there – most of them young farm boys. The town has recently renovated the waterfront with a beautiful amphitheater, fountain, and convention center. We certainly liked it here and decided to stay a third day – and besides they had a hot tub……..