Ottawa Illinois

We have spent the past 2 days in Ottawa. The free town dock has power , thank goodness, because it is "stink-hot" and we have had the air-con going non-stop
Our first night we were here alone but then we got joined by MV My Therapy and MV Sixteen Tons, who's skipper is here all the way from Finland doing the Loop.
We enjoyed our days, doing the usual chores. We celebrated our wedding anniversary and today we went to the movies.MV My Therapy invited us for dinner and Yonetta made home made banana creme pie for Gary. He is so spoiled
Life is good on the river.

The first Lincoln /Douglas debate took place in Ottawa Il in 1858

A brush with History public art program was developed to help revitalize Ottawa’s downtown and create a cultural attraction for tourists and residents of the community. The program is sponsored by the Ottawa Visitors Center and overseen by a committee of citizens devoted to public arts.

The painting program began in 2002. As of early 2005, five murals have been completed, and more are scheduled to begin! The murals thus far have focused on figures or events that have been important to history, including local industry, prominent citizens, or the creation of a major internal improvements project.

Originally opened around 1910 as the Gayety Theatre, a vaudeville house, the theater later was renamed the Roxy and became a movie theater. We saw the movie Elysium starring Matt Damon and Jodie Foster with a big South African influence, written and directed by South African, Neill Blomkam 

Heading back to the boat after doing laundry.

A cool car Gary said I had to take a picture of.

A couple of turkeys

An abandoned barge will eventually become part of the landscape as it fills with soil and vegetation.

Bald Eagle

Exiting a lock

Tow and barges

Happy Anniversary Gary picked some flowers from me from the gardens around the dock.

Tomorrow we head further south towards Hennipen.

.............................to be continued