Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sept 13-17, 2007 . . . Chicago

Bonnie was unable to return at the time we planned so it was a solo trip for Charlie from Naval Training Center to Chicago, some 34 miles. The weather was rough, NW winds 20-25, swells 2-4 . . . took a few pictures as the approach to Chicago was being completed.


As Chicago drew close the sky cleared, the view was better; the tallest buildings on the left and right with the two white radio towers on top are the SEARS building and the JOHN HANCOCK building.


Just inside the harbor breakwater is the Navy Pier.


Entry into the harbor is past this light to starboard . . . the SEARS tower in the background. Finally . . . calm water at last!


Our nephew, Cam Land, and his wife Katie came up from Indianapolis to visit. Our first outing was a walk to the SEARS Tower and a view of all of Chicago.


From the 103rd floor of the SEARS Tower . . . the South side of Chicago and a view of the Sanitary Canal going South, the canal we will travel through when we leave Chicago and proceed South. The little marina is called the River Marina . . . and a condo alongside.


Looking to the Southeast is the Burnham Park marina and just before that is the Soldier Field . . . football.


Another look at the Navy Pier and the entrance channel from Lake Michigan into the Sanitary Canal, our route into Chicago and then South on the Illinois River.


A North view from the SEARS Tower with the JOHN HANCOCK Building being the tallest in the view. The bit of green in the lower right of the picture (double click the picture and it goes to full screen) is the Sanitary Canal we will traverse after passing the Navy pier and going under the Michigan Avenue and other bridges before going South.


Behind the UBS building and in front of the Chicago Sun-Times building is the intersection of the Sanitary Canal and the Chicago River. We will turn South here . . . in the middle of downtown Chicago.


The West side of Chicago the view begins to become lower, no more tall buildings. The Eisenhower Expressway, Frank Lloyd Wright Studio.


The Chicago Lock, the first of the locks going down the Sanitary Canal, Chicago River, Des Plaines River, and the Illinois River.


We have entered the Sanitary Canal, first under the Lake Shore Drive Bridge, 25.5' clearance, then under the water arch . . . water is shot across the canal for the first ten minutes of each hour.


The Michigan Avenue bridge (17.9' clearance), the Magnificient Mile (shopping, shopping, shopping), then more bridges to sneek under.


Bridges, bridges, bridges. First the Wabash Avenue bridge (22.1'), the State Street bridge (21.4'), then Dearborn (22.4'), Clark (19.7), LaSalle (18.6), Wells (18.6), North Orleans (18.9). Our mast is down and our "air-draft" is 16'.


Now out of downtown we come to the Conrail Amtrak Railroad Bridge . . . 10.5' and then wait for the bridge to lift. We now have two loopers traveling with us, behind us is TWOCAN, and 5th QUARTER.


TWOCAN and 5th QUARTER following us down the river.


Our first encounter with the barge traffic on the rivers . . . up close and personal in this narrow river channel. This barge is only one wide . . . more later that are two and three wide. Squeeze by very carefully!


The junction with the Calumet Sag Channel is now just behind us and we join up with our friends again, GREAT ESCAPE. They entered the waterway via the Cal-Sag (South of Chicago) while we entered through the Sanitary Canal (mid-Chicago).



The Electric Zone . . . a section of charged water where "they" hope to keep the carp from traveling up the Illinois River up through Chicago and into Lake Michigan.


The Lockport Lock then the Brandon Road lock. Both are 600'x 110' and move us some 30-40' depending on the river level. SONATA is tied to a traveling bollard and we are in the lock with many other loopers.


In the lock: LUCKY STAR, GREAT ESCAPE, JJsODESSEY, 5thQUARTER, GENESIS, TWOCAN, MYSTIC BOND, and SONATA.

No comments:

Post a Comment