Rinker Raft Up Party

[bat32]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but all summer plans/trips are being reviewed right now.  Big cutin hours at work and we have acouple other big trips planned for the year.  I still think this could work but I will have to post pone my answer for sure.  I encourage someone else to pick up and just set a date.  I might be more apt to convince the admiral if the plans are already in place.     Let me know.  The time off is easy to get now, just have to look into the expenses of making the run.

[DZ]

Hope it'll work out for some of you. Itchin' to get in the water but haven't been able to work it out yet. 43 degrees in Peoria right now - geeeez!

[bat32]

I was able to drop it in on last Wednesday and enjoy the 70 degree weather before we got wacked with this stuff.  That is the kicker, in earlier than ever before and not able to use it at all.  With gas prices where they are we will be doing alot of floating this year.  The good nes is Peoria is down river so we can make it there for almost nothing we just may have to pan handle to make our way back up  Hopefully things pick back up and we can get this thing going again.   

[DZ]

Beautiful eve on the Illinois in Peoria, Bat. When are you coming down? A new Retro Bar is opening soon on the riverfront, so you can pull into a slip and get a tasty Hamm's or Falstaff on tap, if you needed more incentive!

[bat32]

Oh that is pleanty of incentive!!  Actually work just picked back up and if things keep up we will deffinitely be making the trip this year.  Now we just need the weather (and my fuel guage) to start cooperating.

[bat32]

Ok, work is back up and summer is inm full swing.  I am going to be in Peoria the weekind of the August 5th for a Wedding (hopefully taking the boat as tranpotation since the admiral has to drive seperate anyway).  But it is a good chance to check everything out if I get a chance,   Someone posted the local authorities are starting regular inspections.  How is it down there?  I figure since I dropped the ball for the kick off maybe we can do an end of season thing.  

[DZ]

I'd imagine we'll be around on the water that weekend. Hopefully some other Peoria Rinker people will chime in and we can meet up with you.

As for the patrols in Peoria, they kicked it up big time July 4 weekend. Seemed every possible agency was out, and they were boarding boat after boat after boat. Never bothered to come by us for some reason, even though we were anchored for hours near a bunch of others they did board. But last weekend, it seemed to be back to normal, and nobody was around when the clueless boaters flew through the no-wake zone at full throttle.

[bat32]

Must have got some federal funding for the weekend or something.  I hat going out on the weekend myself.  Between all the idiots and the DNR, I would rather be out during the week and enjoy the water.

[pepmyster]

dnr? What's that?

[frodo13056]

Here in Illinois the Department Of Natural Resources (DNR) are the governing law enforcement body for the waterways (Coast Guard is at the top of the ladder and DNR is one step down from the CG). Then you have County Sheriff boats and in some locations you have local water police.... yes, us boaters in Illinois need up to 4 separate law enforcement departments to keep all us crazy boaters in line. Good thing there is no crime anywhere else on the weekends since we devote so much time, energy and money to keeping the waterways safe and sound (sarcasm).

[pepmyster]

Thanks Frodo for the explination. My God,,,you guys must be pretty crazy over there!!!!!!!!

[bat32]

You would think so but too many times I have seen us crazy boaters get local law enforcement out of a tough jam on the water instead of the other way around.