Aug 29- Thunderstorms most of today. Dave is repairing the stuffing box around the shaft on the starboard side today. I am doing the usual cleaning and laundry. Another down day. We tried taking a walk over to the lighthouse but were stopped by a girl at a booth on the way in saying it was closed. Well we tried.
Aug 30- We left Holland at 9:00 am on calm lake but fog this morning with visability of 1/4 mile which was pretty good. As we travelled along it lifted and the sun appeared. We reached the entrance into St. Joseph at 12:00 pm and were greeted with many, many boats pouring out into the lake. It was crazy for a few minutes (we had them coming down the river 3 abreast at one point), apparently the train bridge had just opened and this was the back-log. We thought we might try the free wall but after seeing that mess we decided to go into West Basin Marina. It was dog friendly with grass at the foot of the slip (Koby thought he had died and gone to heaven). As far as St. Joseph it was ok but not boater friendly as far as shopping.The nearest grocery store was 25 miles away. While out on our dingy explore we came across two Sheriff's people in a boat and we hailed them over and asked them about what was in the area. The young man said he was Brampton, Ontario (who would have guessed). This is becoming a theme here.
Aug 31- We left at 9:00 am heading for Michigan City then onto Chicago (finally). Today is my beautiful granddaughter Gabrielle's birthday. "Happy Birthday" Gabbie - love you and miss you. Hope you have a great day. We are travelling in fog again with 1 mile visability. We arrived at the marina at about 1 pm. We needed some supplies so we walked to a bus stop and caught the bus to West Marine and a grocery store. We caught a cab back to the marine. When we got back several Loopers had gathered in front of the office. We met up again with a lovely couple we had met way back in Parry Sound and met several others we may see along the way.
Sept 1- We left Michigan City at 9:00 am heading for Hammond which is about 14 miles outside of Chicago. This marina was right beside the Horseshoe Casino and was very large. It took us about 10 minutes to walk up the dock to water Koby. We finally had a light bulb moment and decided it was quicker to take the dingy up to the front to water him. We saw several other Looper boats there but a couple of them were not at their boats. It was 93 degrees today so we are not doing too much - just staying inside in the air conditioning.
Sept 2 - We stayed and extra day so that we could go and see Chicago before we started do the Calsag . It was still extremely hot and Dave did not want to go into Chicago and walk around, so he had the thought to go down by dingy. So we did! We left Koby in the air conditioning with lots of food and water and away we went. We got there and decided to go down the river so we entered the lock. It took about 5 minutes to go down in the lock. Then downtown we went. It was awesome! I think I enjoyed it better than if we had come in by train and took a ferry down through. We were the only ones in the lock coming back out. It was a little rough going back to the boat but not too bad. We got back loaded Koby in the dingy to take him up to shore. When we got back two other Loopers we had met had arrived. We met a couple on the boat "Harmony" and they said they were leaving the next day to go down the Calsag. So we hooked up with them.
Sept 3- We left at 9:00 am a little behind "Harmony" and headed down the Calsag. We caught up to them at the lock. When we got in the lock I did the usual put fenders down go the hook ready but we didn't need them. The lockmaster said we could just stay in the middle of the lock running. It was quite strange. The Calsag is far from pretty and with all the tows it can be a very stressful day. We travelled 40 miles today and passed under 35 bridges and did 2 locks. It was a very long and hot day but we are here in Joliet on the Free dock tonight. We will be travelling with "Harmony" again tomorrow. I would be in very hot water if I didn't wish my oldest grandson who is 17 years old today a very "Happy Birthday" Tyson. I hope you had a wonderful day. Love you and miss you.
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| This is where we were turned back when heading to lighthouse |
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| A strange lawn ornament |
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| This is a front lawn which is completely English Ivy |
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| A private home next to the marina |
Aug 30- We left Holland at 9:00 am on calm lake but fog this morning with visability of 1/4 mile which was pretty good. As we travelled along it lifted and the sun appeared. We reached the entrance into St. Joseph at 12:00 pm and were greeted with many, many boats pouring out into the lake. It was crazy for a few minutes (we had them coming down the river 3 abreast at one point), apparently the train bridge had just opened and this was the back-log. We thought we might try the free wall but after seeing that mess we decided to go into West Basin Marina. It was dog friendly with grass at the foot of the slip (Koby thought he had died and gone to heaven). As far as St. Joseph it was ok but not boater friendly as far as shopping.The nearest grocery store was 25 miles away. While out on our dingy explore we came across two Sheriff's people in a boat and we hailed them over and asked them about what was in the area. The young man said he was Brampton, Ontario (who would have guessed). This is becoming a theme here.
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| Just a little foggy when we left Holland |
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| Bored doing a little cleaning as we go |
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| The sky got darker but nothing happened |
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| River into St. Joseph |
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| West Basin Marina |
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| Private homes |
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| Private home next to marina |
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Aug 31- We left at 9:00 am heading for Michigan City then onto Chicago (finally). Today is my beautiful granddaughter Gabrielle's birthday. "Happy Birthday" Gabbie - love you and miss you. Hope you have a great day. We are travelling in fog again with 1 mile visability. We arrived at the marina at about 1 pm. We needed some supplies so we walked to a bus stop and caught the bus to West Marine and a grocery store. We caught a cab back to the marine. When we got back several Loopers had gathered in front of the office. We met up again with a lovely couple we had met way back in Parry Sound and met several others we may see along the way.
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| Another foggy morning |
Sept 1- We left Michigan City at 9:00 am heading for Hammond which is about 14 miles outside of Chicago. This marina was right beside the Horseshoe Casino and was very large. It took us about 10 minutes to walk up the dock to water Koby. We finally had a light bulb moment and decided it was quicker to take the dingy up to the front to water him. We saw several other Looper boats there but a couple of them were not at their boats. It was 93 degrees today so we are not doing too much - just staying inside in the air conditioning.
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| Shoreline starting to look more industrial |
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| Manana headed to the fuel dock |
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| Our slip was to the right |
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| Horseshoe Casino in background |
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| Dark hulled boat is "Harmony" |
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| Right side of marina |
Sept 2 - We stayed and extra day so that we could go and see Chicago before we started do the Calsag . It was still extremely hot and Dave did not want to go into Chicago and walk around, so he had the thought to go down by dingy. So we did! We left Koby in the air conditioning with lots of food and water and away we went. We got there and decided to go down the river so we entered the lock. It took about 5 minutes to go down in the lock. Then downtown we went. It was awesome! I think I enjoyed it better than if we had come in by train and took a ferry down through. We were the only ones in the lock coming back out. It was a little rough going back to the boat but not too bad. We got back loaded Koby in the dingy to take him up to shore. When we got back two other Loopers we had met had arrived. We met a couple on the boat "Harmony" and they said they were leaving the next day to go down the Calsag. So we hooked up with them.
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| A hazy Chicago shoreline |
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| Lighthouse heading into Chicago |
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| Ferry terminal |
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| Waiting to go into lock |
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| Going out of lock |
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| Fire boat |
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| My next boat! |
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| Odd looking buildings |
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| A few people trying to cool off |
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| The El |
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| Oneof the many ferries |
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| Outdoor cafe |
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| Coffee shop |
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| Very old unique ferry |
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| Don't get gas and brakes mixed up |
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| Fire hall |
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| This is the lockmaster house |
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| Couldn't miss Trump tower |
Sept 3- We left at 9:00 am a little behind "Harmony" and headed down the Calsag. We caught up to them at the lock. When we got in the lock I did the usual put fenders down go the hook ready but we didn't need them. The lockmaster said we could just stay in the middle of the lock running. It was quite strange. The Calsag is far from pretty and with all the tows it can be a very stressful day. We travelled 40 miles today and passed under 35 bridges and did 2 locks. It was a very long and hot day but we are here in Joliet on the Free dock tonight. We will be travelling with "Harmony" again tomorrow. I would be in very hot water if I didn't wish my oldest grandson who is 17 years old today a very "Happy Birthday" Tyson. I hope you had a wonderful day. Love you and miss you.
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| Our first tow of the day |
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| First bridge on the Calsag |
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| Lift rail bridge |
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| We just floated in this lock |
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| Someone forgot the plug |
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| Some homes along the river |
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| Again someone has a problem |
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| This is another one in the same marina |
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| Overhead pipeline |
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| Water flowing into the river |
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| Some bigger homes |
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| Try passing a tow there! |
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| This is self explanatory |
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| This is where we are for the night |
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