Well we are indeed swinging at anchor tonight, for the first time in a long time, and we are enjoying it. We are tucked behind a small island just downstream of where the Sangamon River empties into the Illinois River at Beardstown, IL.
In 1831 the young Abe Lincoln took a boat from New Salem Il down the Sangamon River, joined the Illinois River right here, continued down the route we will be following as far as the 0hio River, then on to New 0rleans where he sold the products he was carrying, then returned up the Natchez Trace. While he was in New 0rleans on that trip, he witnessed slavery for the first time.
This picture is taken from our anchorage and shows a tow coming from behind the island that shelters us from the main channel. There are 15 barges, 3 wide and 5 long. This tow is longer than the Titanic, or an aircraft carrier. We will see longer ones when we get to the Mississippi.
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