17-18 August, 2021. Enjoyable visit to Chicago

 

6 SM; 1.3 hours

17 Aug.  Looks like a drunken sailor navigating Serenity from the anchorage on north side of Navy Pier to south side DuSable marina.  Check in time was not till 1300, but I had called the day before and we could come in at 1100.  Leisurely morning, on flat calm Chicago harbor.  No rush this morning.  Peaceful sleep last night as the wakes died off a couple of hours after sunset, with gentle breezes during the night.  Last cool night probably in a while.  We fired up the diesel and hoisted the anchor at 0945 and just cruised around the Chicago harbor until we headed toward the marina.  The marina and huge mooring field is in a harbor inside of the Chicago harbor.  Our slip, E-1 was next to the pedestrian/bicycle path along lake shore drive.  Narrow fairway approaching the slip but easy in calm winds with no wake or current.  Secured at 1050.  (Map) Marina office a block walk with showers and laundry room gated.  Each pier of the marina has a gated and secured gate separating marina from the population.  Kim’s marina video

Mooring field

Serenity with the sailboats

Long pier looking east

Once secured, we walked to the Navy Pier looking for Mediterranean food.  Found it.  We had a gyro and a chicken shawarma.  Food was good and not too expensive.  Wandered around Navy pier for a bit.

Ferris wheel on Navy Pier

Contacted my son and let him know we were here and all secured.  We caught an UBER at 1500 and arrived at my Son’s new home about 1530.  We have not visited since they moved to a new home north of Wrigley field.  Beautiful renovated two story flat in a very nice and peaceful neighborhood.  It has been nearly two years since we have visited.  Last time Max the grandson was only a month old.  Now he is two and the new granddaughter Zoe is 6 weeks old.  It was great to see Matt and John.  Zoe was asleep.  Tour of the new home then we walked about five blocks to day care to pick up Max.  He has grown so much.  I got to push Max in his push cart to the park to play.

Pushing Max to the park

Letting Max hang from the bar

Max and Grandpa

Zoe was sleeping during most of the visit, but we will get to play another visit.

Peaceful sleep

We had a great supper with everyone.  Such a great visit.  Max had his first bite of pizza.  He liked it.  We UBERed back to Serenity.  Prices were less expensive than I anticipated.  The L, and train were available, but with COVID and recommendations from my son, he suggested we just take the UBER, so we did.

18 Aug.  Peaceful and safe night aboard Serenity.  Heat and humidity returning.  We took an early walk along the Chicago river; Riverwalk.  Lots of folks out biking, walking and running.  

Tunnel to riverwalk

Beautiful walkway with bars and restaurants 

Sunrise Chicago River

Trump tower

We did laundry in the marina laundry room; single washer and dryer but not too expensive and they worked and were available.  Matt, John, Max and Zoe all came to see the boat.  We had a great time; Max is the bold one.  He wanted to touch everything and enjoyed sitting at the helm and looking out the windows.  We walked along the piers looking at the boats and “big water” as Max calls it.  Took everybody to lunch.  A grateful visit.  

Little Max checking out where I sleep

Later in the afternoon we walked to “town”; about 0.5 miles to Michigan Ave the magnificent mile.  Busy, but not like before.  It appears most of the walkers are tourists.  Little notice of business people and you wonder about the empty office buildings.  We wandered back south to a really impressive grocery/market and bought provisions.  Not too expensive considering location.  Hauled all back to Serenity.

What a wonderful day.  The marina prices were certainly more expensive than what we normally would be comfortable paying, it was much, much cheaper than what a waterfront/water view hotel room would cost in Chicago.  We have so enjoyed this stop, but ready to continue the journey.  Tomorrow, we exit the big water, negotiate the first of several locks as we return to the inland waterways.  Traveling first on the Chicago river, then the Illinois waterway to the Mississippi.

5673 SM journeyed; 1994.2 hours hobbs