CATCHING UP - TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY, SEPT 16 & 17

Wow – we have been internet challenged for days.  Need to backtrack.  Looks like I'll have to break this into 2 posts...here we go!

TUESDAY, SEPT 16 - M/V Midas Touch came by at 7AM and asked if we wanted to go through next lock with as a group of 6 boats (4 trawlers and 2 sailboats) and we did.  We were all off the wall by 7:30 and heading for the Brandon Road L&D.   

We were still on the Des Plaines River at this point.  About 14 miles below the lock we joined the Kankakee River and are now officially on the Illinois River.  We went through many areas that were marked as Conservation areas.  We saw lots of these blinds, at least I guess that is what they were.  I haven't had time to look them up.  Still seeing lots of waterfowl, maybe even more as we go.  

On to Dreseden L&D.  We often have to do what we call rafting together when there is not enough room on the walls of these locks for all of us.  We tie 2 boats together and the inside boat rides down with the boat that is handing lines next to the dock. 

Got through both of these locks pretty quickly so the whole group decided to go for lock 3 of the day.  We scooted down towards the Marseilles lock winding our way through barges and then had to wait for over 4 hours.  One of our group called to make sure they hadn’t forgotten about us as night was approaching.  The lockmaster said to standby, he knew we were there.  About ½ hour later we heard him call the northbound tow boat that we all thought was already in the lock.  Lockmaster asked where they were at and they said no one had called to tall them to approach and enter the lock.  So the lock sat there open, with no one in it for maybe close to an hour.  Needless to say there were a bunch of unhappy loopers.  It was really getting dark.  By the time we all got through the lock it was dark and very hard to see.  We all headed for Heritage Harbor Marina just north of Ottawa.  The marina staff had gone for the day.  Thankfully we had been in communication with others Loppers already staying there and they knew we were all coming.  The harbor hosts Dennis and Sandy along with the Loopers helped us all find slips and get tied to the docks.  Who was there to tie us up but our French-Canadian friend Simon, we meet again!  It was almost 8:30 and the group had had it.  Most went directly to the restaurant but we made a plate of nachos and hung out with Molly.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT 17 – We took a much needed shower and together with John and Karen (Captain Jack the cat’s humans) from Sundowner, took one of the marina’s courtesy vans and went for a supply run to Walmart.  The other John was driving and they have been looping for a while.  Well apparently he forgot the red lights mean stop!  It was an adventure just going to the grocery, many laughs were had by all.

As soon as we got back we headed out.  We were just dying to anchor and get out of the marina scene.  Found a beautiful spot near Sheehan Island at Buffalo Rock State Park.  Dropped the anchor and took in the peace and quiet.  Thought we would do some exploring on our dinghy Marley and put the motor on him.  Went out for a ride near shore when the flying carp really started to fly!!  WOW – you hear about them but until you actually see it, it is hard to believe.  We throttled down the motor and they seemed to calm. 

Back to the boat for dinner and some down time.  The water flattened out and it was a nice sunset.  Went out after dark when we heard a boat approaching and it was a modified pontoon boat with tons of lights on it.  They were flying by the shoreline and the carp were really flying!  It was incredible.  Wish we would have had cameras at the ready.  That was our big excitement for the night.

TOO MUCH TO WRITE ABOUT, TOO LITTLE TIME!

This is going to be short and sweet.  I will blog about yesterday and more about today tomorrow.  Weird, I know but dinner is almost done and it is getting dark. We are doing great, at anchor at Buffalo Rock State Park just south of Ottawa, IL.  Lots to report but will just leave you with a few images tonight and we will fill in the blanks tomorrow.  Peace!

Oh yeah, and there are Asian Carp everywhere...whoa!

A REALLY BIG DAY

We left Hammond at 8AM on Sunday morning along with Trawler Akasha. Several other Looper boats left even earlier.  Down the Calumet River we go. Lots of bridges, railroad bridges, car bridges and industry.  The first lock was the Thomas O'Brien lock which we got through pretty quickly.  

Then continuing down the Calumet, Akasha motored ahead and we traversed the river alone.  Saw some fairly nasty looking boats but then there were pockets of man-made waterfalls and lots of wildlife too.  Egrets and herons galore!  Made us feel like the river is pretty healthy to see all those birds.

Our kitty Molly came out and was checking out the cockpit.  We were so glad to see her come up by us and get out from down below.  She's doing just great!

Then we reached the confluence of the Calumet with the Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal and the waterway became the Cal-Sag.  Very skinny water and LOTS of barge fleeting areas.  We did run into a half-hour delay when we encountered a couple of tugs loading up a towboat near Lemont.  Then through the Electric fence which is supposed to keep the Asian Carp of our the Great Lakes.  It was a non-event, just cruised through the electrified water and we were done.  No big deal.  We got to Lockport Lock about 3:10 and 2 boats we sitting on the wall waiting.  Once tied up, we heard that it would be a couple or more hours before we could get through.  There were barges coming up and they said they had a hazardous load that needed to get through and nobody goes with them.  So we welcomed other Looper boats as they arrived and joined us on the wall.  

Rosemary and Kathryn on Akasha invited me aboard to do yoga on the back deck of their boat.  We had a great practice in the sun right there tied up to the lock wall.  We got to meet fellow boaters and enjoy each other's company while we were waiting. 

Wouldn't you know that when I went down below to make dinner about 6:00 the call came over channel 14 on the radio.  The crew of the Towboat MALLARD was going to let us lock through with them.  Our Looper group had blossomed to 8 boats and 2 more we approaching quickly.  So 10 Looper boats and the Tow MALLARD took a drop of 40'.

New friends John & Karen on Sundowner

 Going down - down - down...

Then it was this mass exodus of boats racing into Joliet.  

 

Several bridges had to be raised as we all paraded down river with our running lights on.  It was really kind of neat. Coming into tie up however was craziness! All of us descended on the wall at the same time, a crumbly wall at that.  Thank God for the crews of Seamont and Pimaro for helping all all get in safely!!  They were running back and forth grabbing lines left and right.  We had met the the crew of Seamont - Silvi and Simon, a French Canadian couple on a Rossborough on our dock back in Sturgeon Bay.  They spent a few days on our dock and were even at the Manager's Appreciation party. It was wonderful to see them and reconnect again.  I think we will be doing lots of that as we continue our journey.

Well, I know there were 10 captains and crew that were very happy to get to port.  It had been a long day for us all and it was almost dark when we arrived. Once in, we got off our boats and looked at each other like "Did that just really happen?"  We enjoyed some docktails with John, Karen, Tom and Cassie recounting our adventures of the day and what a day it was!

It is now Monday morning and we are trying to decide if we want to travel today or just stay put.  It's chilly and a little rainy so we may just take the day "off".

TIME TO FLY!

Tomorrow Free Bird takes flight down river!  We are so excited to finally be heading into new territory.  All has gone as expected.  We are sitting in the shadow of the big Horseshoe Casino, literally!  That big building in the background is actually floating and it not only casts shadows and blocks our cell phone signal - but it also blocks the south wind.  There are curses and blessings in everything.  We went in there for drinks and dinner Monday night.  Quite the place...

I had a hard time getting the security people to let me take my camera up top to take this picture of the boat.

  

Seems those gambling folks are a little uptight. HA!  Anyway, we did make it home to get Molly.  She is adjusting beautifully so far.  We met 2 other boat cats today, both boy cats - Capt. Jack and Oliver.  Surprised to meet so many other folks with cats - it is great!  

Our Galley (Kitchen)

We cleaned all day, stowed away all the stuff we brought (half of which we probably don't need) and met 4 other Loopers.  This Looping community is really neat.  There is a members-only discussion forum that posts to our email inboxes daily where other people doing the loop talk about their experiences, their successes and their troubles.  It has been invaluable already as that is how we got together with the other sailboats who were interested in shipping masts and got that whole thing figured out.  Now all of us who are "North" yet are watching the daily movement of the down "South" boats and how they are getting along.  There has been quite a bit of flooding, lock delays and back ups along the Illinois River so far.  We are leaving around 8 in the morning and taking the Cal-Sag with 2 other trawlers.  There are 2 more trawlers that are going to take the Chicago River route.  All 5 of us are hoping to be tied up in Joliet tomorrow evening.  We have 2 locks to go through and many bridges to go under before we get there.  Better get to bed, good night!

FREE BIRD IS NOW A POWER BOAT!

Well, big step today (no pun intended) for us.  We went down the Calumet River and had our mast pulled out.  Even going down this tiny piece of the river was interesting.  We saw a big ship and had to go through 3 bridges just to get to Skyway boat yard.  

And we even saw the Nina and the Pinta.  They were at a shipyard getting their masts pulled out too as they are heading down river and are expected to be in Memphis, TN about Sept. 25th.

Nina and Pinta

As far as our mast goes, I think it is the first time it has ever been parted from the boat.  Happy to report it all went off (or came out as the case may be) without a hitch.  

  

 

Headed back to Hammond Marina, got our heads (our bathrooms) pumped out and took on $82 worth of diesel fuel.  Now we are tied up securely and will drive home tomorrow to pick up our kitty crew member Molly.  We will be back here on Friday and are all ready to begin our journey down river on Sunday.

We won't be posting again for a few days as there will be nothing to report.  Have a great few days everyone!!!

BLOWING BY THE WINDY CITY

We have been very busy little sailors.  In Waukegan we took off our mainsail in preparation for taking our mast down.  Thought it would be a good idea to try to get that done.  Sunday morning was beautiful and while we did have to motor some, we sailed under genoa past the city of Chicago.  

And that takes a while!  It is such a different perspective from the water.  So nice, no traffic - although I would say we saw at least 200 sailboats.  There were different races taking place all over the bottom of the lake.  

 

Water Intake just off city

Passing by the Chicago skyline

Navy Pier

 Then it was off to Hammond, IN.  Not exactly the garden spot of Lake Michigan but we will be moored there for the next week.  We got our other sail off, folded it and called it a day.  Today is a big day on the calendar for us.  This morning we go down the Calumet River to get our mast pulled and turn Free Bird into a power boat.  There is a lot of prep work to do so I must sign off.  Hope it all goes well today.  At least the weather Gods are cooperating so far - yay!