Hi F and F,
We decided to head off before the tourist boats start at 10 am , so left at 9.30 am.We wanted to go the Chicago Sanitary Canal route rather than th Calumet Sag Channel. It is more picturesque and we felt sure we could get under the Michigan Ave bridge which is the lowest bridge on route.
By 10 am we were through the first lock, a small 3 ft drop.
Indeed when we got the Michigan Ave we had a foot to spare under the bridge.
The water level was a foot lower than normal. The Canal was very busy despite our desire to leave before the tourist boats and our first hold up was at the Chicago Railroad Life bridge.
Normally open, we had to wait while 3 trains went by and we had a big barge creeping closer and closer behind us.A little scary!
Anyway we were off again through the very industrial parts of Chicago.
It took 4 hours to reach the junction of the Chicago Sanitary and Calumet Sag waterways.
We saw some picturesque areas on the way , despite all the industry and barges and also several blue and white herons resting on the waters edge.
We got to lock no 2 to find three rows across with a total of nine barges connected together sitting in the water just outside the lock.
The lock master told us it would be a while before the tow boat (tug) would be connected to these nine barges and start the journey north.
We tied up at the wall and waited about 1 and 1/2 hours before we were called in.
The lock was simple and quick.So much easier doing down and not up as we did when coming on the St Lawrence last year. Shortly after that , we arrived at Joliet our resting place for the night. We had caught up with Jm and Christine on their Prestige 500 .
We had found out only this morning we were planning to stop at the same place! We had passed them several times during the last few days at CYC as they were in a slip on the same dock. Had only waved and said hid urging that time so had no idea they were doing the loop also!
At Joliet there is a town dock including power free to boaters.
The area is a little interesting, plenty of police presence and we later heard there had been a guy near the opposite bank who had been wielding a shotgun. Fortunately he was reprehended by the police before he could do any damage.
After a long day it was nice to relax and have our drinks on board Crash our new friends from CYC.
Turns out Jim had had an issue with his GPS and his port engine , both had stopped working !
It occurred after he had been through the electrical dispersal fish barrier system. This system had very recently been redone , so we were wondering if they had increased the electrical charge, and was causing problems.
It's a permanent barrier to prevent invasive fish species going through the Chicago Canal into Lake Michigan.
We watched several long barges and tow boats slide quietly past us, quite something .
The concrete wall we were next to was right beside the park , so we doubled back our lines onto the boat for security.
It has been known that kids can come along during the night and undo your lines.Also was the case in Canada waters. Didn't want our boat drifting into the canal without our knowledge!
Time for quick dinner then turn in for an early night.
Over and out,
E and G.
No comments:
Post a Comment