Tying up to a Tug? No Problem - Beardstown Logston Tug Service (#52)

Sparkling Star
Sep 20, 2024
2 min read

Updated: Oct 14, 2024

We had a 80 mile day to get the Beardstown Logston Tug Service. We decided to get up early to be able to reach Beardstown with a good amount of light. We coordinated with our buddy boats who had gotten further down the river that we would coordinate with them to get into the lock.

It was a beautiful morning departure.

Along the way we get to see America's infrastructure transportating at work. Wonder how your gravel, mulch, gas moves around the US - look to the Inland waterways.

The railroad bridges are lifted for the tugs and boats when passing under if no train is coming.

We had our one lock of the day with our friends on First Light & Finito.

After anchored for about an hour, Finito and Pipe Dream joined us while the double barge completed transit. This was our only lock of the day getting to Beardstown.

After leaving the lock and passing under the bridge

Laura finds herself in awe of the inland waterways and all the activity.

When we arrived, we were greeted by our friends on First Light and the Tug Captain.

This was the self-proclaimed most friendly bridge operator on the Illinois. He's actually the only one we talked to even though we didn't need a lift. Midway down the river he called out Ted and our friends on First Light to share that he thought their VHF radio etiquette was the best he'd heard. Then he asked them to education all the other pleasure boats on the water. This seemed like quite a big task....and the respons was thank you for the compliment.

We arrived around 4pm, after 9.5 hours on the water and with the lock wait. We tied up to the original Clyde tug that was bought to start the Tug business in 1955.

We had a much easier tie up than the others had to the barges.

When I want to pay, Laura found herself on a tour of a Tug.

There was a discussion about the mandatory safety lights from the Coast Guard inspections.

And this was the engine room.

This is what you have to walk through to get on the ladder to get into the town.

These pictures are courtesy of our friends on Dreem Looper.

Even this picture doesn't truly show how terrifying they were. Laura went up and down exactly one time.

There were a few sights to see in Beardstown.

This is the Lincoln Courtroom which was closed when we arrived.

Beardstown is mile 88 of the Illinois river. This numbering system really helps us plan our days.

We had a lovely dinner at the only open Mexican restaurant on a Monday. We were having a knack of landing at locations where everything was closed that day.