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"The Windy City" - duh!

Recall that we left Muskegon, Michigan and crossed Lake Michigan to arrive in Chicago. I neglected to report that the pristine, clear, blue waters of Traverse City and environs were not to be found in Muskegon. The waters there were murky, and grey. I was doped up on Dramamine, so I don't know when they changed to blue again, but Chicago boasted blue waters. I can't say if they were crystal clear, though, since it was so choppy.  They actually had a sort of "water theme park" blue to them. So Todd and I wondered: if Chicago, a very large city of questionable, industrial habits (at least in years gone by) can have blue waters, what the heck is going on in Muskegon?? Or is it all a ruse, and Chicago is buying up the world's inventory of "water theme park blue" dye?  Since I'm trying to make nice-nice with Chicago in this post, we will just raise our eyebrows at Muskegon and await their response. 

Another of our Chicago adventures I forgot to write about was our dinghy ride to Navy Pier. According to the rambling and poorly edited guide book we bought for the Great Loop, you can just dinghy yourself on up to Navy Pier, tie off, and enjoy its wonderful tourist fare. The evening we arrived in Chicago, before the winds sucked our souls, we donned our winter coats, hats and gloves and tried to fit our lifejackets over all that - for once thankful for the heat that the life jackets brought as opposed to their sweltering stickiness of summer. 

Todd and the Littles love a good dinghy ride. "Faster Daddy!!" We dodged water taxis (medium sized ferry boats, not romantic gondolas) and their ensuing wake.  I have a death grip hold on each child and somehow also the dinghy straps (so sorry, there aren't any pictures).  Our dinghy destinations are typically a bit further away than one thinks - maybe an illusion of the water? Who knows but we constantly find ourselves saying, "Sheesh, I thought it was closer than this.". 🤪 But I digress.   Us. Bundled up. On our way to navy Pier.  We are definitely the smallest craft out there, but we arrive. It's a wonderful sight and maybe even better from the water. The ferris wheel, the lights, and so.many.cruise.ships..... Ant man 🐜 or "Honey, I shrunk the kids" take your pick. We felt tiny and awkwardly out of place.  Maybe a little bit judged - "are you crazy?? A dinghy?? With children?!?! Surely you must need assistance!!". Oh, no, we did this on purpose. 

Long story short, you cannot tie up on Navy Pier, it's for commercial traffic only. But we can say we tried. 

However! On your last day in Chicago, you can Uber to Navy Pier. And you can finally get that delicious pizza at Giordano's which you will also happen to eat off of for the next three days. 🤪


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