Friday, August 31, 2012

 

Here are some end of the month statistics:

 

As of this date, we have traveled 2,092 miles in 101 days

Engine hours are 452

Diesel fuel consumed 660 gallons

We have locked through 122 locks

We have spent 32 nights at paid docks

We have spent 38 nights at free docks

We have anchored out 31 nights

We have visited 82 cities, 5 states and 2 countries

 

Today we traveled from Wilmington, IL to Ottawa, IL, 27 miles and locked through 2 locks.  We are staying in Ottawa for the weekend because the weather forecast is for rain every day -- residuals of Hurricane Isaac.

 

We arrived in Ottawa in the early afternoon and tied up at the free municipal dock that has electricity for no charge.  It's conveniently located near the center of town.  We took Striper to Shampooch Dog Grooming a few blocks away and had her bathed and clipped.  Then we returned to the boat and stepped the mast.  It was 92 degrees and we gathered up our three bags of laundry and set out on foot for the laundromat.

 

While we were stepping the mast, a kayaker named Bob came by to chat.  As we were walking up town, Ralph was carrying two of the laundry bags (trash bags) and one slipped out of his arms and of course, the bag broke -- it was doubled-bagged, but he was NOT a happy camper.  The laundromat was .7 miles from the boat, so he was doubly NOT a happy camper.  As we're crossing Main Street, who comes by but Bob the Kayaker!  He stopped and offered us a ride to the laundromat.  Of course we agreed -- then he changed his mind and took us to his office about 2 blocks from the boat.  He owns the building, has his office on the first floor and a beautiful apartment on the second, a roof garden on the top and in the basement -- a washer and dryer.  He gave us use of his appliances all day, then invited us up to the rooftop to have a cold drink and chat with a bird's eye view of the City of Ottawa.  How thoughtful of him.  It took us a couple hours and we bought sandwiches from a little bar next door and had dinner in Bob's basement. 

Today was a busy day, so I have very few photos:

 

Stepping the mast

Hooray!  92 degrees and the mast is up

Striper in Bob's basement after her haircut

Camping out in Bob's basement waiting for the laundry to finish

Our new friend, Bob Paglis, on his rooftop

This tug was made into a bar and dance club

 

Thursday, August 30, 2012

We left DuSable Harbor Marina and traveled one mile in rockin' and rollin' Lake Michigan around Navy Pier into the Chicago Harbor Lock.  We were required to don life jackets before we could enter the lock -- this was 116th lock in this adventure and the first time we were required to wear life jackets.  The water lowered about 2 feet and we were officially in the Chicago River.

There are 23 bridges through the City of Chicago proper but many, many more as we continued south -- I stopped counting at 40.  The river forms a "Y" and we continued on the main south branch which goes through the industrial section of Chicago and then becomes the Sanitary and Ship Canal.  Lots of warning signs posted along this area  which is highly toxic and the water turns odd colors -- like black, with bubbles at the surface -- and smells strangely.   We traveled through the electric fish barrier which is designed to prevent the invasive Asian Carp from going into the Great Lakes.

The scenery was industrial and there were many tug boats and barges along the way both coming and going.  We locked through the Lockport Lock after a 30-minute wait for commercial traffic.  These locks use floating bollards to tie up -- new to us.  It was 89 degrees and hot and we locked through the Brandon Lock after a two-hour wait. We had nowhere to tie up for the wait and the Captain saw an abandoned tug boat and we tied to it.

Commercial traffic takes precedence over pleasure boaters.  We arrived at our destination, Harborside Marina in Wilmington, IL.  I had hoped to do some laundry there, but learned as we were traveling that one of the transients before us decided to dye rugs in their equipment, thus green dye ruined both the washer and the dryer, so I was out of luck. It was just as well, because we had traveled 53 miles and were en route 11-1/2 hours, including waiting for the locks -- we just wanted to eat dinner, clean up and go to bed..  Here are a few photos:

Our last mile on Lake Michigan -- and it was rockin' and rollin'

Exiting the Chicago Harbor Lock into the Chicago River

These river locks use floating bollards to tie up

Brandon Road Lock

Harborside Marina, Wilmington, IL the water is covered with some kind of green vegetation -- there are mostly houseboats docked here

Read this about the Sanitary Canal

Electric Fish Barrier Sanitary Canal

Nowhere for us to tie up and wait for lockage -- tied up to an abandoned tugboat

Wednesday, August 29, 2012   The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise

This afternoon we took a 90-minute tour through the Chicago River to see the diverse and magnificent architecture in this interesting city.  Our docent had an amazing recall of details about each building, the date of construction, the architect, material composition, the period it was built and other factoids about each one.  It was most memorable and my photos do not do it justice. 
 

Trump International Hotel & Tower

600 West Chicago Avenue

Civic Opera Building

Chicago Mercantile Exchange Center

Centennial Fountain along the Chicago River

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower)

Nicknamed "Dresser Drawers"

Building on right with Woody Woodpecker-like clock is Boeing

Merchandise Mart -- where catalog shopping began

Chicago Sun Times

On-going project -- the River Walk through Chicago

One of twin Marina City buildings nicknamed "Twin Corn Cobs"

Wrigley Building

Lake Point Tower

The wavy building is Aqua at Lakeshore East

Where the cruise begins and ends along the river

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

This morning we risked life and limb to walk from DuSable Marina to Navy Pier.  The passage over the bridge is narrow and full of runners and bikers and walkers like us.  One out of a hundred bikers will announce their presence with a "to your left" warning, the other ninety-nine zip by.  Navy Pier has great shops and restaurants inside and outside are interesting kiosks, amusements, bars and goodies.  

Betsy's best friend, Katie, and her sweet 6-month-old baby, Declan, picked us up at the round-about next to the marina and took us to lunch at Gino's East -- the original deep-dish Chicago pizza.  Gino's is quite unique as the whole place is covered in graffiti inside -- in fact, they encourge it.  It takes 45-minutes to bake this wonderful pizza but it is so worth it.  It was delicious!  Thank you, Katie, for bringing us our mail and various bundles (including the Captain's repaired watch) and for sharing time with us.  And thank you for the delicious goodies!!

In the afternoon we took the Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour.  We spent 90 fascinating minutes on a Chicago River cruise looking at the amazing architecture in the city.  Our docent was even more amazing, sharing tons of information about the various architects, periods when the structures were built, designs, compositions, and other interesting factoids.   I'll post the photos separately.

Our friends, Charlotte and Dean, met us at the round-about and took us to dinner at Bacchanalia Restaurant in Little Italy, Chicago.  We had a wonderful dinner, good conversation and lots of laughs.  How thoughtful of them to think of us.  It was a sad day for me with the loss of my brother and I was glad for the numerous diversions.

Declan McCormack

Katie, Ralph and Declan

Inside Gino's East -- they encourage grafitti

Mmmm...Chicago Original Deep Dish Pizza

Katie brought us goodies from her favorite bakery cinnamon strudel and smiley face cookies

Charlotte and Ralph at Bacchanalia in Little Italy, Chicago

This whole street in Little Italy has been raised about 5' so what you see is a walkway to the front door but you're looking down to see the first floor of the house.  It's really unique.

The treacherous walkway to Navy Pier

Navy Pier, Chicago

The entrance to Navy Pier

The 150' tall ferris wheel at Navy Pier

We stopped at this candy shop for goodies for Katie and her family -- If I worked there....well, I just couldn't work there...I'd be my own best customer.

One of the corridors inside Navy Pier

Fire works at Navy Pier

I'm in the turquoise shirt photographing "The Bean"

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

This evening after dinner we took a stroll to Millennium Park to see the magnificent sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Cloud Gate, more popularly known as "The Bean."  The Chicago Jazz Festival was going on with a concert in the park.  As we're walking through the park to get to the bean, under-toning the concert we hear a voice singing "No dogs in the park, no dogs in the park..."  We turned around to see the security guard smiling at us singing, "No dogs in the park..."  We were laughing and said we didn't see any signs and didn't realize no dogs were permitted in the park, but told him his delivery was so gracious, we almost didn't hear it.  

He, Ralph and Striper had a nice chat while I went to see the bean.  He walked out with us and he said he believes that you should enjoy what you're doing and be kind to everyone so instead of grouching at people, he sings to them and he demonstrated "Step out of the fountain," "Please walk your bike," and "No dogs in the park..."  His manner is a reminder to us all that you can get your point across with a smile on your face and a little song.

Here are some photos of the incredible Cloud Gate a/k/a "The Bean:"

Cloud Scape a/k/a "The Bean"

Inside "The Bean"

Me and "The Bean" -- my reflection

Ralph and Striper wait with the singing security guard

Poster for the Chicago Jazz Festival

The Abegweit is home to the Columbia Yacht Club of Chicago

The history of the Columbia Yacht Club

DuSable Marina with the ferris wheel on Navy Pier in the background