Patience pays off

U202 So I really want to get through lock 25. There are a couple of locals fishing and watching the spectacle and tell me what's on the other side. I'm going through the damn thing. I pull over and get out my lights. I'm gonna rig for a little night paddling. Turns out I got through and got the tent up as the sun was setting. Turns out the dredging crew was going to dredge the lock. I was the last one through. It was closed until 11:00 am. Remember everyone, "it's better to have locked and lost than to have never locked at all". I've got ONLY 2 more. Today I got up early and did some more fog paddling. I knew no one was behind me because the poor dumb bastards were stuck behind a closed lock. Ha ha. I made decent time inspite of no current. Im 35 miles into the day when I spy, off in the distance, Alton Ill. I hatch a plan. One call to the team captain,  Jenny, and the ball starts to roll. I'm sitting in a restaurant eating steak and drinking beer. Sweet!  41 miles AND a hotel. Let's all give Jenny a hug.