Chicago River to Joliet

Trip Day:	181	Latitude:	41°31.44' N	Locks Today:	2
Miles Today:	39	Longitude:	088°05.24' W	Locks Total:	83
Total Miles:	3,567	Location:	Joliet, IL

We whipped up some blueberry pancakes for breakfast to    celebrate Nancy’s short stay on the boat.  As the sun rises over the Chicago skyline it’s cool enough for long sleeves and the air smells fresh after yesterday’s rain.  On our last trip to Chicago we experienced The Field Museum, Aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago and the observation deck of The Sears Tower.  So   today, we leave this great city with acres of parks, miles of bike paths, walkways and beaches.  Nancy helped us untie and shove off from the dock as we said our goodbyes.

 

  We entered the Chicago Lock, which is really just a gate between Lake  Michigan and the Chicago River since there is no elevation change. 

 

 

 

 

As we passed under the Lake Shore Drive Bridge we waved to Nancy who had walked to the bridge to see us through.

 

Even though we had been through the bridges on the boat tour, it felt so different on our own boat—just amazing!  The glass skyscrapers sparkled in the morning sunlight, as the train passed overhead, scullers rowed, people jogged along Wacker Drive and we cruised under the bridges.  The old bridges were a charming reminder of the hard work and determination of the people who built this great city.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An hour into the day, the charm of the Chicago River gave way to the behind the scenes river industrialized plant operations with cranes at work loading barges.  By this point the Chicago River has changed to the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.  

There was very little commercial traffic today, just a couple tugs pushing 6 barges, 3 wide and 2 long. We continued passing  under bridges, then began to see the warning signs regarding  Electric Fish Barriers.  This is Illinois’ attempt to keep the invasive Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.  We passed through the barrier without  incident and surprisingly did not see any dead fish. 

  There was an hour wait at the Lockport Lock which was a 40 ft drop.  Shortly after the lock the canal flows into the Des Plaines River.  The church steeple in the distance was the first sign that we were   nearing the town of Joliet.     Just before the bridge we sighted  Bicentennial Park where a group of children waved as we passed.  The Betty L headed toward the town dock where two other boats were already moored and we followed.  We were surprised to see free electric hook-ups at the dock and wifi as well. 

Dinner was on the Betty L and Bruce joined the group.  He is single handing the Loop on his 24 ft sailboat—now that’s  adventuresome.

After dinner the Joliet Harbor Hosts, Brenda and Dale stopped by and shared much welcomed information about the area and downriver.