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Trip Day:
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177
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Latitude:
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41°53.17'
N
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Locks Today:
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0
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Miles Today:
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37
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Longitude:
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087°36.64' W
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Locks Total:
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81
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Total Miles:
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3,528
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Location:
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Chicago, IL
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The rains and lightning hit about one in the morning—Ron got up to close all the hatches. Not a nice initiation for Julie sleeping on the boat for the first time! We got underway by eight o’clock as planned in very calm winds. The seas still had a little roll, just enough to gently rock us as we motored our way toward Chicago. Julie had time to spread a towel on the foredeck and catch a few rays of sun in these last days of summer on Lake Michigan. A little before noon we called the Betty L on the VHF to suggest stopping for a cooling swim. It didn’t take long for the gang to hit the water.
By lunch time the Chicago skyline was in sight, but encompassed in a hazy fog. We watched in anticipation as the skyline grew and Julie pointed out famous buildings including the downtown campus of Northwestern where she attended graduate school. Passing Navy Pier we pulled into DuSable Marina which is directly downtown on the Riverwalk of Millennium Park.
The towering skyscrapers are a magnificent view from the boat on one side and the expanse of Lake Michigan on the other side.
Before we had settled, Joe Parker, the boat owner behind us on the T-dock stopped by after noting our home port. Amazingly Joe grew up in Sarasota and knew my brothers Joe and Jim. Oh yes, it is a small world!
Bob and Madeline took off exploring on their bike and we headed for Navy Pier. Julie played tourist guide as we walked the pier, then commented she had never be on the Ferris Wheel, so of course we insisted and she and Ron took a ride and snapped some great photos from the top.
We headed west toward town after tiring of Navy Pier and had an early dinner at Coco Pazzo Café on N. Saint Clair. We enjoyed our food selections as we sat outside, watching the busy street scenes and listening to the big city sounds. Julie grabbed a bus to head home for the night and we stopped in at Fox & Oboe for a cup of coffee. Before returning to the boat, we sat on a bench in the park to people watch for a short time. It had been a good day and we were glad we had a chance to spend time with Julie.
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