8/19/2016

A few more looper boats tied up at the dock today and we had our first dock party.  There were 12 of us in all.  It was a really good time.  There were also 4 dogs and two cats.  One of the dogs was named Jake and since we happened to be in Joliet, we got a picture of Jake and our dog Elwood together.

8/18/2016

Waited for the morning Chicago rains to end and under blue skies headed down the Illinois River.  Took a lot of city pictures and then proceeded down the high industrial path.  Stopped at Joliet Illinois for the night.  Joliet has free wall dockage and free electric.  The free WiFi is iffy at best.  We quickly turned on the air and cooled down.  At about 4:30 another looper boat tied up in front of us.  They are quite a ways around their route and within 15 minutes of docking, gave us great information.  We are now settled down to cocktails, Wisconsin cheese, beef sticks and crackers.  At the rate we are eating the cheese, we will have to send home for more.

Below is the first lock of our trip.  Right at the entrance to the Windy city from Lake Michigan.

Mike called the railroad lift bridge and it was lifted for us.  Very old and rugged.

Beside the river there was a lot of industry.  This is a picture of a large magnet picking up scrap steel in a steel yard.

A small part of the Chicago is without industry to the waterfront.

Admiral Joell drove past some very large barges.  They like to be called Tows.

This was our first hook up to a Bollard in one of the Locks.

The lock had a 32 foot lift

8/17/2016

Spent a wonderful evening on the Chicago Harbor with two great friends, Patrick and Jeanie.  We all ate supper on the boat and then went for cocktails at the Columbia Yacht Club and then the Chicago Yacht Club.  While at the Chicago Yacht Club, we saw the Navy Pier fireworks.  Nothing like good friends to spend an evening with.

The Windy City

We left Waukegan with a southwest wind.  The travel to Chicago was very nice.  Had a laugh trying to get on a mooring ball, at Monroe Harbor.  We used our headsets and all is now well.  We only ran over the stupid ball twice.  It was the balls fault.

We took off this morning and are now in Waukegan, Illinois.  Waved to our sister, Beth Tyshynsky, as we drove by her and Walt's condo.  She was outside with binoculars and a camera.  Picture is not too clear, but maybe that was just my eyes.  Not much to do by the marina in Waukegan.  We had some great ice cream and went back to the boat.  Previous loopers have stated ice cream is one of the looper great joys.  

We spent the day saying goodbye.  Family and friends are the reason we enjoy life.   Last night, our brother and sister-in-law - Todd & Maria stopped by.   Today we visited with many friends - Gary, Julie, Bill, Catherine, Steve and many more.  We ended the day with many family members - Ken, Beth, Walt, Kristin, Tom, Liam and even Walt's brothers Andy and George.  It was a great day!

Today, Mikes brother Ken drove down from Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to say goodbye.  Mike let him drive to get gassed up.  We are hoping to take off tomorrow morning.  It is actually time.  We are very  excited.