SEPT 11- CHICAGO TO DRESDEN, IL

Chicago was magnificent and more than we had expected, but 8 days was enough and we were restless and anxious to be moving on. Next Chapter! So a lot has been written, spoken, and repeated about the infamous Chicago Lock and its issues. It has driven normal people to fear this lock more than any other. This was to be our first obstacle to the downtown waterway of Chicago. Yes it was big, yes the mooring lines were too short to be useful, yes the lock master for her own reasons refused to answer the VHF radio at 0700 and yes the Chicago Lock was not the best effort of the US Army Corp. of engineers. But Terri and I found all the folklore just that. We were lucky and the wind and the weather cooperated and we had an easy two foot drop towards sea level. We were going to pass through the sleepy downtown of Chicago on this early Sunday morning that was also the anniversary of 9/11 and what is now called Patriot day. I feel privileged to be here today and thoughts hearken back 10 years ago today our friends Glenn and Solange Woods were south bound on their boat through New York when the planes hit the World Trade Center towers. They had to interrupt their journey for a couple of days until the waterways reopened. We progress as slow as possible the first few miles in order to drink in the history of this the third biggest city in the US. If there is another word for amazing I would use it for the city while still asleep, seemingly in remembrance of 10 years previous was still a thrilling experience. I shall not forget as it shall be cemented in my mind as one of life’s great experiences.

LEAVING LAKE MICHIGAN BEHIND

RADAR TOWER AND ANTENNA LOWERED TO FIT UNDER THE BRIDGES

ENTERING CHICAGO LOCK

OUR FIRST BRIDGE

VIEW FROM OUR BOAT

MORE VIEWING



MORE

ALMOST DONE

THE CITY IS WAKING UP

LOCK AND BRIDGE

FIRST GRAIN ELEVATOR

ANOTHER BRIDGE

THE COUNTRY SIDE BECKONS

LOCKING THROUGH

As the day developed the river did become busier with traffic and we did see the security cars and personal watching us through binoculars around electric power plants and major ports. But the lure of the country was calling and the increasing wildlife was the vocal cord. We soon caught up with two looper boats that had departed just prior to us, and soon became an armada of boats with a like destination. Soon another looper boat had joined the river from the Calumet route and was showing the rest of us the way. Now the four of us Blue Angel, Nancy Jo, The Cooper and of course Terrmar seemingly as one, forged on. We have not met any of the crew of the other three vessels but we all shared the common bond that our looper burgee promoted and our desire to head south. As we passed through Jolliet, two of the boats dropped out of our little armada to seek a safe overnight berth. Terrmar and The Cooper forge on.  A few miles downriver Terri and I approached our destination and tried to accurately identify the dock that might welcome Terrmar that evening. The only docks visible I had identified as a Tom Sawyer rafting type stop because they were tall, spindly and extremely exposed to the raging river traffic. If we accepted this challenge, not only would the night be a sleepless one for the crew but the good ship Terrmar would take a beating like never before. A quick phone call to the office was required as they did not monitor the VHF radio. This phone call produced only confusion as the other party seemed only interested in extracting their pound of flesh. They wouldn’t even come to meet us at the dock. Terri even tried to reason with them that the dock they had planned for us was unacceptable and they countered by wanting to dicker on the fee. Nuts say we! We then talked to The Cooper on the VHF to enquire about their anchorage location and we were soon hot on their heels. This too proved to be unacceptable as passing traffic would have left us little peace. The next lock was a few miles downstream and after a quick VHF conversation both boats agreed to head that direction and check out the waters between here and there. As we approached the lock it appeared there was precious little water to anchor in. It is against the rules to moor overnight on the wall of any Federal Lock but after Terri’s encouragement I contacted the Lock Master and he quickly agreed. This was truly a gift for both boats and crews as we were all tired and some of us were bordering on grumpy. After we moored and traded pleasantries with the crew of The Cooper and the lock master Terri served dinner for Grumpy and we were soon in bed as the sun had set.

Tomorrow would be awesome I say.

Mark