Day 403-405
Miles Traveled on Sunday: 48
Total Miles Traveled: 6240Friday and Saturday were spent aboard "Seahorse" watching the rain come down and the wind blow. Neither day was fit for travel or for site-seeing. As a result, we choose not to take the train into Chicago and see the sites. In addition, the transportation into Chicago would be challenging (since the train station was not a walkable distance) and we both were battling viral colds. This visit will be saved for another day with better weather, easier transportation, and better health.
Sunday brought less wind, no rain, and sunny skies. We took the opportunity to complete our travels on Lake Michigan and move into the inland river system once again. The short hop up to enter the Calumet River just south of Chicago was only a two mile cruise. This would be the closest we would come to Chicago on this particular trip.
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| Chicago, IL |
The theme for today's travels was bridges and barges. Immediately upon entering the Calumet River, there was one bridge after the other. A few we had to call for a lift, but, most we were able to go right under.
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| a few of the bridges on the Calumet River how many do you see? |
The Calumet River branched off and we continued on the Cal-Sag Canal which connected us with the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This 20 mile long canal, completed in 1900, was constructed to connect the Chicago River with the Des Plains River.
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| junction where the Cal-Sag Canal enters into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal |
Along this canal, there are numerous barge mooring (parking) areas.
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| lots of barges tied off to walls of canal |
With all the moored barges, it did not leave much room for navigation. At one point, we had to pull off to the side in between two moored barges and let a tow boat with a barge pass by.
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| not enough room for us both - moored barges on left and front barge with tow boat behind on left |
Just shortly after maneuvering our pass with the tow boat, we entered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers electrical dispersal fish barrier system. This system sends electrical current into the water to prevent the migration of invasive fish species, particularly Asian Carp, to the Great Lakes waters.
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| Sign advising of danger of electric fish barrier |
Our second lock for the day was the Lockport Lock. This lock was the first step in producing a navigable waterway from Chicago to Mississippi. After leaving this lock, we left the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal and entered the Des Plains River. Just three miles down river from the lock was the city of Joliet, IL which has a wall next to a park that has free dockage with power. There were already several other Looper boats tied to the wall. After getting our lines secured and power hooked up, we took a short walk to the nearby park. Nearby there was an interesting tiled art picture on the cement.
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| tiled art work on cement |
After our quick walk, Angie worked on the blog and Dan visited with Ken & Lois on "Camelot", who had traveled with us today. Then it was dinner, some trip planning, and to bed.
Wow - hard to believe you are back in the river system already. Bet if feels like you are now on the home stretch. Still enjoying the blog, and hope to see you - assuming you make it back up the Ohio.
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