What a difference 12 hours can make on Lake Michigan! By 5 AM, the Lake and Waukegan harbor had laid down. We left the Yacht Club at 5:30AM. As long as the lake was calm, we had enough experience to be comfortable leaving before sunrise. Jack took an excellent picture of the sunrise from the port aft deck that I will post as soon as I receive it from him.
Those of us who have been on Lake Michigan after a storm know that there are left over- rolling waves but the frequency is generally much longer than in the storm and motion is more tolerable. There were some 4 -5 foot rollers, but they were not uncomfortable.
We made it to the Calumet River by 11AM and the first lock, Thomas Obrien Lock and Dam a little afternoon. As soon as we entered the river, the red markers were on the left and the green were on right. From a navigation perspective, Sleeping Bear is leaving. However, from a life experience point of view, we are entering a whole new world. Can you appreciate the irony?
The first lock, similar to the lock at the entrance of the Chicago River only drops a few feet. Not a big deal.
The Calumet River winds through mostly industrial areas until it hooks up with the Cal Sag Channel. There are spots along the way that wooded and or wetlands. Part look as the might have 100’s of years ago. It is an amazing view of the southern part of Chicago and the southern suburbs. We had the majority of the river to ourselves. There were a lot of barges tied up on walls along the way. The occasional barge underway dictated the utmost level of respect. Whenever we encountered a moving tow, we quickly learned that communication with him was a key to our safe passage. They have right of way and at times take up the entire channel. While stopping and pulling over to let them pass is required, communication with the captain to insure that we were not waiting in the very path the tug intended to go is also a key.
The Lockport Lock and Dam was our second and last lock for Friday. The drop in this lock is nearly 40 feet. We had been on the water for 11 hours and were grateful when we able to approach the lock just as an up-bound tow was leaving the lock. There was virtually no wait! The only two issues in this lock were Kona’s. First she did not understand why if we tied right next to all of that grass (within the lock area) why she couldn’t get off the boat and roll in it. Second, the floating Ballard made a screeching noise at which Kona had to bark. By the way, that bark will echo against the concrete walls of the lock when we were down 20 to 40 feet.
Out of the lock, we proceeded to Joliet. There was a spot on the wall, across the river and down the street from Harrah’s were we were able to tie-up and get power. At the end of day we had travelled 95 miles in 11 ½ hours. We deserved the steak dinner and cocktails at Harrah’s.
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