Wednesday September 22: Joliet, Illinois

Our last day in Chicago (yesterday) was spent doing a bit more sightseeing (mostly bike riding around the museum, aquarium area, chinatown) and meeting Bethany (Steve's brother Andy's daughter) who is going to school in Chicago. All in all a very nice stop - but it was time to move on. First order of business was to take the mast down so we could make it under the bridges. There were 40 bridges in a span of 5 miles as we headed south on the Chicago River - going right through downtown Chicago. It was remarkable!! The start was a lock which dropped 2 feet :-) We got yelled at because we didn't have our life jackets on - who knew? The first bridge is Lakeshore Drive. Downtown was lots of high rise buildings - including the Chicago Tribune building (the one with the clock). We passed under the elevated train system and basically enjoyed being on a flat river for a change. Most of the river below Chicago is very industrial with scrap yards, gravel yards, mulch yards - all with barges being loaded or unloaded. The barges encountered so far are really something - and small compared to what we hear about on the Mississippi. Definitely we stay out of their way. The two canals/rivers from Lake Michigan joined together about 20 miles south of Chicago and we picked up 1 knot of current - going our way! YEA! We successfully passed through the length of canal that is electrified to stop the progress of the Asian carp into the Great Lakes - which is a good thing as the canal was scheduled to be closed for a period of time in early October. Kind of weird thinking about the water containing an electric current. Successfully went through another lock with a 40 foot drop and an idiot that created 3 foot waves in the lock by not slowing down and we are now in Joliet and again a long tiring day :-) Selah had everyone over for shrimp and grits for dinner - it was great!! Steve is trying to figure out what Slovak dish he should make ...... Tomorrow: off to Harrah's casino for breakfast (and a bit of slot machines) and then off we will go.