Trip Day:	173	Latitude:	42°44.02 ' N	Locks Today:	0
Miles Today:	25	Longitude:	087°46.87'W	Locks Total:	81
Total Miles:	3,461	Location:	Racine,  WI

We said goodbye to Milwaukee as we passed the unique Milwaukee Art Museum building exiting the breakwater.    The overnight southerly winds had shifted to southwest by 8:30 so we got underway in near perfect conditions.  The winds were  12-15 with higher gust, but with very tolerable seas.  Madeline and Bob followed us in the BettyL as we ran  fairly close to the coastline on our way to Racine. 

 

 

 

We reluctantly accepted Bob and Madeline’s help in preparing to have our mast un-stepped before reaching Chicago.  The four of us lowered, folded and bagged all the sails, disconnected the wiring enclosed in the mast and re-assembled the cradle to hold the mast once in a horizontal position. 

Madeline ran into Beth and Dean on Kismet who just arrived home two weeks ago after completing the loop.  Beth offered to drive us to the grocery and we accepted her gracious offer.

When the work was done it was off to the pool for a little relaxation and cool water.  We finished the night by going out to dinner . 

Tomorrow the crane crew will lift and lower the mast into position, then we will strap it down and bundle the shrouds, stays and halyards.  It’s a process, but we have to clear the 17’ bridges in Chicago and the upper Mississippi.