We traveled about 50 miles today to Racine, WI. Reefpoint Marina is one of the biggest in the area. There wasn't anyone around to help when we arrived at about 2:00 so we pulled up to the fuel dock just past the pumps. I eased the boat to the dock and Jerry managed to lasso the cleats to get us situated. We certainly have a good system most of the time.
Jerry and I took a walk around downtown Racine. It seemed mostly deserted and there were a few businesses moving out. Really disappointed, as I thought the downtown would be booming with all the condos around the marina. Sad to see.
Wednesday - Decided to hit it early today to be on the water before it got rough. Left the dock about 6:30. Fairly calm seas. Crossed into Illinois about 8:30. Thought about anchoring at the inner harbor near Chicago. It actually looked like a good place but we wouldn't have been able to get to shore so decided to go on to the Hammond Marina in Hammond, IN. Big difference in costs of marinas from Hammond to Chicago. Hammond $25/night and Chicago $127/night.
Chicago skyline
Navy PierWe pulled into Hammond Marina about 4pm after making reservations earlier in the day. No help from marina staff. Fortunately, the winds were reasonable and the boat next to us came out to help with lines. We got situated then walked up to the office to register. The office was closed so we headed back. The gate has a card key entry and we didn't have a key. Another couple was coming up at the same time and we said we hoped they had a key. They said the same thing. He had been here before, obviously, so he slinked around the side of the gate to hit the exit button and the gate was open. Security was questionable.
Fixed dinner then just chilled until about 8 or so. A knock on the boat and a few other loopers were having a fun time on the dock X, we were on dock U. We grabbed our wine and beer and headed over to join in. Three very expensive, big boats, The Last Resort (met them in Charlevoix), Loopy Kiwi, and Jet Stream. They were finishing up dinner and then Phil, Loopy Kiwi, got his guitar out. He played and sang for well over an hour.
Carolyn, KC, and Don.
What great fun we had, singing along, dancing and just having fun with new friends.
Jerry really liked his music, really he did!
Freya still trying to figure out her camera.
Friday - I spent the day cleaning. The other loopers were going to the buffet at the Horseshoe Casino. Later that evening we stopped by to visit again. They were much more reserved, probably too full from the buffet.
Saturday - We are now off Lake Michigan. Because Wind Song has a vertical clearance of 18'6" we have to forego the trip through downtown Chicago. There is one fixed bridge that is 17' so we will take the Calumet River and Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. It's a slightly longer route but will give us 19'1" clearance. This section was loaded with bridges. Ten bridges in less than an hour. Then the first lock, the Thomas O'Brien. We waited about 20 minutes and it was only a 2' drop.
We cleared this one by only 6". Jerry climbed up on the top of the sundeck to take this picture.
We saw a very industrial area. This is a metal works company.
We locked through with a sailboat that was next to us at the marina in Hammond. Back to the big locks. Quite a difference from the small Canadian locks.
And this is why the locks are so big. One of the first barges we see on the Illinois Waterway.
Barges and tows in many shapes and sizes
At this junction we turn to port (left) downbound. A starboard turn will take you into Chicago.
This is a towboat and barge parking area. It is narrow and depending on traffic can be difficult to transit. 
Leaving Lockport Lock a 40' drop. Coming into Joliet we had to have 4 bridges opened for us to pass through. We just made it as one of the bridges won't open between 4:15pm and 5:15pm. Joliet has a free dock with 30 amp power. Unfortunately, Jerry had converted our 30 amp power cord back to 50 amp so we did without. Actually, we could use our generator
.
This is the lift bridge at night. The bright lights to the left are Harrahs Casino. We were sitting on the sundeck and had a visit from the Joliet Harbor Hosts. Brenda and Dale did the loop in 2005 and now offer to take loopers to the grocery store or just about anywhere. It was so nice to meet them.
By the end of the day, we had passed under 50 bridges.
Saturday - We had been advised to call Brandon Lock before we leave the wall to see what the lock traffic is. It's much easier to wait on the wall rather than at the lock. There are 2 boats traveling with us through this area. The lockmaster says "come on" so off we go at 7:15. We are through the lock by 8:00. Light rain. We arrived at the next lock, Dresden. A tow with many barges was waiting to lock down. The three boats dropped anchors and sat back to wait. Five hours later, we were allowed to enter the lock. It's now almost 3:00. We travel to the next lock. The other two boats have stopped elsewhere. Looking back, that would have been a good idea.
We get to Marseilles Lock at about 6:00pm. Jerry sees an inlet just off channel. We slowly feel our way in thinking we may just anchor here for the night. He is looking out the window as I slowly move in calling out the depths. We're at 11.5 ft and stop short. I throw it into neutral. Jerry guns the engine and we back off whatever we got stuck on. So much for this as an anchorage. He calls the lockmaster to see if we can tie up to one of the big bollards. He said we should come on down and tie to a U.S. Corps of Engineer work barge. We inch in and Jerry lassos the cleat.
Another tow arrived. We thought we'd have to wait for that one also but the lockmaster said he was going to lock through the pleasure craft. Jerry asked if we could just stay here for the night. Absolutely not was the response. Almost 2 hours later, we are pulling out of the lock. It's dark now. We haven't traveled at night before so it's kind of scary for me. Jerry is ok with it since he's fixed the spot light.
Our plan is to get to the free dock at Ottawa, IL. We arrived about 8:40. The dock is big enough for two boats and that's what is there. As we creep in, Queen Kathleen, Mike and Kathy, come out. I ask if we can raft to them explaining that we've been waiting for locks for almost 8 hours today. Neither of us have ever rafted so Jerry comes out and I go up to the bridge. He and Mike make it work. We met them at Frankfort, MI. We were so thankful to them for allowing us to raft. What a relief to be secure for the night.
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