Crossing The Ohio River

Recently, I was driving in southern Illinois and came upon a little town named "Cave in Rock" (aren't they all?), Illinois. This little town exists today for two reasons: 1. tourists visit the large cave in the rock located up the river a piece, where criminal gangs hid from lawmen during frontier times; 2. the southern most location where a ferry crosses the Ohio River from IL to KY. My purpose for being there was the latter.

I was fourth in line...a pickup pulling a horse trailer, a SUV with 2 adults, a straight truck hauling furniture for delivery, and a two-seater Toyota MR2, with one unfilled seat. We waited for twenty minutes while a four-section coal barge came lumbering up the channel...being pushed by a good-sized diesel tugboat. It moved so slowly up the river towards some unknown destination in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, or Pennsylvania, WHATEVER!! It took forever! But, kind of interesting to watch, never-the-less!

Finally, the flotilla passed by. When safe, the ferry released from the landing across the river. It backed up the whole trip...maybe a half mile...landing at the dock just below "Cave in Rock." It released the seven cars/trucks in order...the center row first, the left row second, and the right row third. Every system has its interesting quirks, doesn't it!?

Somewhat impatiently, the ferry attendant waved us on....he put my caravan (eRV and Del Sol) in the middle, right behind the straight truck....we two made a full row. The pickup/horse trailer was then brought in on the right, followed by the other vehicles, both left and right. After getting me situated, the attendant gave me a half smile...I thanked him and returned a full smile, which seemed to raise his spirit....actually, I think he was in love with Del Sol!

When all of the vehicles were fully situated on the ferry, the attendant raised the ramp and, then, we were off to Kentucky...yea! The ferry chugged up stream for, say 500 yards, and then veered towards the shore, slipping southwards with the current until we were nearly perfectly lined up 20 feet off of the landing dock. The pilot was really used to this drive .... thank goodness, since the current was quite hardy on the river. He thrust the diesel engine and we docked with a thud...good job!!!!

The attendant tied the ferry to the dock, lowered the ramp and waved the center aisle off first...eRV and Del Sol complied and off we went, following the furniture truck. Del Sol's trailer bottomed out as we exited the ferry....screech!!!! My friend, the attendant, gave me a real grin and ogled Del Sol as she passed by. Then, happily, we were free of the Ohio River Ferry and off through the Kentucky countryside we sped.

"Cave in Rock" was unkempt from years of neglect. The river was brown from agriculture runoff. The ferry was dirty from car mud droppings. But, the scene is positively vivid in my "beauty of North America" memory.