Northcentral Illinois

We left Joliet Illinois at MM 288 after night and early morning storms abated around 9am.  Shortly after Joliet is the Branden Road Lock and Dam on the Des Plaines River which a gracious Corps of Engineers boat backed partially out of the lock to give us more than 20' of width with which to enter the lock.

We forged ahead as the skys cleared and a great day ensued.  The second lock of the day was the Marseilles Lock and Dam at MM286.

Nice Corps boat that backed out of the chamber so we wouldn't have to try to squeeze through a space 3' wider than the SaSea Sally!

Locks had a 30-40' drop

Typical Illinois River secenery

Lock that has an upper gate that raises and lowers into the base of the lock chamber.

We tied up in the Heritage Harbor Marina  at MM 251.5 on the Illinois River.  Heritage Harbor Marina is new and first class with pool, restaurant/bar, nice showers and bath rooms, courtesy car, and really nice people.  The marina staff was extremely accommodating and included a Looper who completed the Loop over 10 years ago.  An attractive receptionist and a full figured waitress complemented the guys at the marina.

Cruising the Chicago Loop

Where the Cal-Sag Canal and the Chicago Sanitary Canal join 25 miles west of Lake Michigan

Randolph Street Bridge

Water taxi at a station amid a park along the river.

Back up generators for the electric fish fence.

Jan Moore and Barb meet us at the Joliet IL park where we stayed overnight.

Chicago amid early morning clouds.

Lock on Lake Michigan where the Chicago Sanitary Canal begins.

Wrigley Building in downtown Chicago.

Down town Chicago!

Boat slips under the Mariana Twoer building.

Building built around Marina on the Chicago River a mile or two west of the Loop

Marina Towers on the Chicago River

With my new crew of Dave Johnson and Ty Nichols we departed Chicago and the DuSable Marina on the edge of the Loop to see if we would fit under the low bridges in Chicago.  We entered the Chicago lock and proceeded down the Chicago Sanitary Canal through the tall buildings of Chicago.

We measured the height of the SaSea Sally a half dozen times coming up with different heights.  To pass under the low bridges, your height must be less than 17 ft. and we measured from 16 ft to 17.5 so we just decided to give it a try!  We ended up at a park in Joliet IL park.

CHICAGO - Crew change

Capt. Clay and Seaman Ward Riedesel

DuSable Harbor at the foot of Randolph Street

North side of Chicago

North side of Chicago (Bruce's and Kathi's condo?)

Navy Pier on the right with inner harbor lighthouse and DuSable Marina on the left

Speed boat rides in the Chicago harbor

Monday, Sept. 3, 2012.  Ward and I were up early and pulled out of the Kenosha marina early in case we couldn't make good time due to waves, wind, rain, etc.  The waves were 3-4' when we left but true to prediciton moderated as the day progressed.  We were in Chicago by noon but it took a while to navigate the harbor and find the DuSable Marina at the foot of Randolph Street just outside the loop and 1/4 mile south of the Chicago River Lock.

Crewman Ward departed in time to catch the 2:30 train to Kenosha to pick up his car and return to his digs in Chicago.

New crewmen, Ty Nichols and Dave Johnson arrived Monday, Labor Day, respectively by train and by vehicle driven by his sweet wife Brenda.  Ty boarded the train in LaPlata MO (north of his home, Columbia) and was in Chicago in 5-6 hours.  Dave drove from Indianapolis, IN.

Kenosha Layover - Day 2

Strong winds from the east continued as Isaac continued..........

Kenosha Layover

September 1, 2013.  After fairly good weather, that Issac storm has whipped up some wind and waves.  The waves are coming from the east so they would be on our beam.  The rollers that came through the old harbor opening looked to be at least 4+' as did the waves crashing over the break water..

Ward and I will stay put today.  Tomorrow (Sunday) looks to be more of the same!

Kenosha WI

Our trip form Racine to Kenosha was slow, averaging 1000-1200rpm to conserve fuel on this short 10 mile trip.  The Lake was pretty calm and we had a nice approach to Kenosha's Southport Marina.  The "old harbor" is pretty small and hasn't been developed much.  The Southport area is immediately south of the old harbor but it has a different entrance to the Lake.

Bob and broter-in-law, Pete.

Bob Mustell's brother-in-law, Pete, and his son dropped by to pick Bob up.  Bob has been good crew and I appreciate his help with lines, etc.

First Class Crewman, Ward Riedesel, a Westminster fraternity brother, joined me for the trip to Chicago.  We had a great Italian dinner at a restaurant operated by Carmin from south America, the wife of a friend/customer of Ward's.

Racine, WI

Bob and I headed to Racine, 25 miles south of Milwaukee.  Again the recently developed harbor was beautiful with condos, hotels, and a beautiful marina with pool (sorry Sally, you missed it). 

Bob and I explored Racine's main street about 3 blocks from the boat.  Lots of restaurants and shops (used clothing, women's stuff, artsy stuff, etc.).  There was West Marine store that was closing with huge markdowns on some items.  I got some rope so several of our bigger fenders could be raised and lowered more easily and a AM/FM/CD player demo that was marked down to $5.  The one on the fly bridge does not work and the sale unit is the same brand so I am hoping it can plug into the existing wiring making installation easier.

Racine Harbor and waterfront

Giant disposal for unwanted fish parts.

On our morning work 8-10 fishermen (obviously on an overnight or early morning fishing trip) were cleaning some nice sized fish at the fish cleaning station.  The station had two giant waste grinders (huge garage disposals) disposing of the unused fish parts.  If you didn't mind a little splatter, it was a great way to get rid of unwanted fish parts.