19 August, 2021. Goodbye Great Lakes; hello inland waterways

 

42 SM; 7.4 hours and two locks

Leisurely morning as I had talked to the Chicago lock tender last night and he said arrival around 0930 would keep us clear of all the commercial tourist traffic.  So after coffee and only briefly looking at Chicago weather we took a good three mile walk.  Returning, we had breakfast, filled the water tank and prepared lines and fenders for today’s locks.  Ready to go as the morning was warming up fast we untied the lines and eased out of our slip at 0850.  No-wake zone travel of about 1.5 miles and we arrived at the lock holding area and called the Chicago lock on channel 14.  Maintenance delay.  So we idled around for about 30 minutes.  

Approaching the Chicago Lock

Cleared to enter lock, we grabbed the lines and locked down three feet to the Chicago River level and exited the lock.  Pretty impressive traveling through downtown Chicago.  Each bridge has excellent signage so we were able to keep track of our process.  

Heading into the Chicago river canyon

Clearing SW of the city, both sides of the river became more and more industrial.  We had a 30 minute delay at an AMTRAC bridge due to train traffic.  Only bridge we could not clear today.  Probably almost an hour of engine time today was idling waiting on a lock or a bridge.  

There was a section about 15 miles long that was very industrial with heavy barge and tow traffic.  Rock and sand barges lined one side or the other.  We pulled off behind warped barges while a tow and barges passed.  No room for Serenity and the tow/barge combination.  He would have squished us like a bug.  We have to give way three times today.  

Waiting between barges as a tow/barge combination passes

Passed through the invasive fish electrical barrier with our shock, tingling or funny electronic abnormalities.  Barrier is attempting to stop the spread of Asian carp to the Great Lakes.  Barrier

Is this going to hurt?

Checking ahead, AIS did not indicate any commercial traffic at the  Lockport Lock and dam.  Radio contact with lock master;  he reported he would have the lock ready in a few minutes.  Shortly we entered and grabbed a floating bollard, tossing a line around.  Soon, we were ridding down 40 feet.  

Bottom of 40 foot drop; doors cracking open

Exiting Lockport Lock

Twenty minutes later we exited the lock and continued about six more miles to the free wall at Joliet, IL.  We swung Serenity around into the river current and secured our lines and the diesel at 1615. (Map)  This free wall had a bad reputation in years past, but it has been relocated a few hundred yards and is now beside a satellite police station.  We should be good to go.  Of note, we have left the cold water of the Great Lakes and the below normal temperatures of a few days ago.  Today at the free wall the water temp was 84 degrees with the air temperature 87.  But we have shade cooling Serenity and we are cooling in our cheap lawn chairs on the free wall. kim’s video

Completely different cruising today.  I never once checked the wave forecast; winds every hour or where a bail out point might be.  Quick look at Chicago weather this morning and we were good to go.  We did drive through the edges of a sizable thunderstorm cell with decent rain for about an hour.  No wind, just ripples on the narrow waterway.  Nice and comfortable.

Left overs and salad for supper on the Joliet free wall tonight.  So far, shade, nice breeze and pretty quiet.

5715 SM traveled; 2001.6 hours hobbs