July 11, 2025

Day 44 (Part 3- Day 7) Hamburg, IL → Alton, IL

54 Miles Today, 1280 Miles Total!

What a day! Ian and Troy got a bit of a late start this morning. Can't turn down some hot coffee from some amazing hosts!

They raced their way to Lock and Dam 25, just in time to beat a few barges! Had they not won the race, they would've had at least a 2.5 hour wait!

As they got close to Grafton, Illinois, boat traffic was a nightmare- with no respect for our paddlers

Storms soon kicked up and forced the guys to take cover on the banks of the river for a little while.

After the lightning cleared, they resumed paddle. However, the heat was nasty and caused Ian to have a little heat exhaustion (even with drinking over a gallon of water).

As they pulled off the river, Ian was hit in the shoulder by an Asian Carp (we were wondering how long that would take to happen). A wonderful river angel then picked them up and brought them to a hotel for the night. A good nights rest is just what they need!

Let's see what excitement tomorrow brings as they'll face more heat and the Chain of Rocks!