Joliet to Ottawa

We went through 3 locks and had hard rain in 2 of them.  At Dresden Lock it rained and hailed so badly the lockmaster said we could stay there until it blew over if we wished.  At Marsellies Lock they told us we would have an hour wait and it turned into 2 ½ hour wait for barge traffic.  It rained off and on for the entire time.  When we got to Heritage Harbor Marina (who graciously took us in about 15 minutes before dark) the crews of the 5 boats went to dinner at Red Dog Grill and celebrated our survival of the day.  We may stick around here another day to do laundry and take a breath.  The locks/commercial traffic go a long way to challenge the pleasure boater.  Heritage Harbor is making up for the Locks, they have a loaner car and a very quaint town in Ottawa.  This is the historic town where a Lincoln/Douglas debate took place in 1858 --one of 7 debates over slavery in their run for the US Senate. 

We have lost our pretty water--Milfoil has returned

Rain--I worn 3 sets of clothes

Loved the rainbow

We called ourselves the survivors
Fugitive, Kat in the Hatt, Gimmetime, Sven and Teresa, and Sunny Days--we had had a rough day

Leaving Chicago

For a variety of reasons we waited until Wednesday to leave Chicago not the least of which when we head out of DuSable Harbor we will take a left into the Chicago River and go through downtown.   So off we go with Gimmetime and Kat in the Hatt traveling through the city viewing all the skyscrapers up close.  Then we had miles of industrial traffic on the other side stopping often to make way for barges pushed by tugs.  Joliet, Ill. is our destination—there is a seawall that is free for the evening and even has power.  There we find about 10 other Loopers some we have met in passing over the last few months.  We all met for docktails around the central park and traded (mainly) Canadian experiences and boat cards.  A lot of us will be traveling together for the next few days.  Bob and Pat (out of Maine), Janis and Bryan (on Fugitive), Sven and Sharon (out of Toranto), Bill and Jann Mellman (Ivory Lady -Marathon Key) are a few of our new running buddies.

Going into Chicago Lock

Skyscrapers

Under Willis (Sears) Tower

Joined the Cal-Sag River outside Chicago

Electric Shock to go through to not allow the Asian Carp into the Great Lakes

Found the bollard locks again

Joliet Wall

Chicago 5

Last full day and it was very muggy and hot.   Labor Day 2015 and we hit the Maggie Daley Park (with the masses).  The park just opened this year, covers over 20 acres, has climbing walls, a skate trail, swings, and slides.  After a couple of hours here we decided that we had to cool off over at the Crown Fountain again.  We hit the boat in time for happy hour and to wind down and get ready to travel the next day.  It has been a great time for all of us and we hate to see the kids leave but we will see them in a month. 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We found an awesome grocery store that is actually very close to our dock called Mariano’s.  I wish we had found it before Katie left—Whole Foods meets Kroger—great quality low prices.  It had a restaurant, a sushi bar and a wine bar --a real urban supermarket.  Two stories of awesome shopping—we took our friends Gimmetime and Kat in the Hatt back between storms that hit the area all day. 

Mariano's Bakery

Chicago 4

We planned better –up early and at the Children’s Museum at Navy Pier by opening at 10am—we were among the first in the museum and had a great time.  The hands on exhibits were very impressive and we seemed to be there before the crowd this time so a great time was had by all.  Katie, Leeton and Fitz had to ride the huge Ferris wheel and Holden and I liked the Carousel.  The Lighthouse ride went up and down (only) and Holden announce as he got off that it was NOT fun (Katie got a funny video of our brave boy).  Then we rode the Big Bus to get real Chicago Pizza— terrific-- and since we hadn’t quite worn out the kids yet we stopped by the huge Crown Fountain to play.

The river system at the Children's Museum

They loved the museum

Digging for dinosaur bones

Crown Fountain

Brave Leeton at the top of the Ferris wheel

Millennium Park 

Crown Fountain Spit

We all needed a nap

Chicago 3

Great Fireworks
 

Shedd Aquarium—now I know it is a holiday weekend, Saturday and the end of the summer for Chicagoans.  What started out as a half day experience turned into all day.  We stood in line for the right to buy a ticket for 2 ½ hours.  The aquarium was good—the extras (a Beluga Whale show and a Monsters of the Sea 4D movie) were worth the extra cost but we got to the boat around 5pm.  We almost lost a grandson to the delirium of needing a nap but all were troopers.  We had to buy ice cream on the way back and it served as a child’s happy hour.  We had promised the kids the Maggie Daley Children’s Park for the afternoon but they forgot and we have plenty of time to go there.  Tennessee had a good win against Bowling Green and because it had a weather delay we heard the end (via the computer).  We ended the evening with the fabulous Navy Pier Fireworks that we could see from the front of the boat.

2 hour line for the aquarium

There was another young man there with an orange shirt and Leeton went up and hugged him
thinking it was Fitz --he about died--it was a funny time. 

Big Fish

The whales put on a cool show

Chicago 2

Fitz and I did a little recon work for the kids coming to visit.  We toured by bike the Museum Campus, went to the Jewel Grocery Store and watched the little kids at the sailing camp here at the yacht club.  The night lights of the city are absolutely breathtaking but every Wed. and Saturday they have fireworks that are fabulous.  We are gonna like it here.  We moved to DuSable Marina Thursday morning and Kat and the Hatt along with Gimmetime arrived there from Hammond.  We all had dinner at the Park Café and went back to the  marina to await Katie and the kid’s arrival late that evening.  Early Friday we got up and walked over to the Chicago Art Institute and got on the Big Bus and took the 2 hour tour of Chicago.  We went by all the Loop, Steeterville, the Financial District and the Navy Pier.  We all took notes on the various places we want to come back to.  Leeton cannot wait to ride the Ferris Wheel with her Bitz and Momma at Navy Pier.  The Children’s Museum is out there as well—it is free on Sunday so we are headed there then.  The Maggie Daley Children’s park is right across the street from the marina and Katie and Holden went and checked it out this afternoon—we look forward to spending a lot of time there.  Tonight, Katie and Leeton walked over to the Columbia Yacht Club to watch the movie Goonies on the rear deck.  Fitz, Holden and I were too worn out. 

Sure glad to see our kids--missing Nick and Scott

Foggy City
 

The Bean

Willis Tower AKA Sears tower with the mail-order mailbox on the side

John Hancock Bldg.--glad we weren't going up for the view

Financial District AKA Gotham City

Field Museum

Trump Tower--Rahm Emanuel doesn't like the sign

Chicago!

We left Michigan City with a little regret to travel the 30 miles to Chicago.  Next to us in Michigan City were Kellirae Boann and Bill Adock aboard Ocean Dancer that were just starting the Loop this week— along with about 10 other Loopers we had extra fun docktails. The added bonus being- we had a Newbie in our midst that all were sure needed guidance. Manna had come in the night before –Sue and Dave are Canadians that started their trip in Parry Sound when we were there and we got to hear how their first 6 weeks have gone.  Plus New Zealanders (Ric, Kitty, Thom and Barbara) aboard Southern Comfort were great.  But.. we had a great weather window and Chicago is calling.  Columbia Yacht Club sits in DuSable Harbor downtown and can take us in until we move next door to DuSable Marina where we have reservations on Thursday.  It is a little rocky but situated about 3 blocks from the bustling Michigan Avenue and beside the public parks that will be terrific for the kids. 

Docktails--the Newbies are beside Fitz

Coming into Chicago
 

Docked at Columbia
 

Columbia Yacht Club, founded in 1892, is housed in this big beached ocean liner

Great Park

Water Feature in the park--they also had movie in the park (Breakfast Club) and thousands attended

Nightlights from the Harbor