Skip to main content

"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. 🤪


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Day One of The Great Loop.

At long last, we are on our way!  Originally, this great adventure was to start on 10/05/2019.  A month beforehand, the boat was pulled out of the water for maintenance.  The boat hauler made a mistake and ended up bending the props.  EEK! Pretty important, props.  They are also pretty heavy and really large.  So Todd sent them off as stowaways on a semi to be repaired downstate.  In the meantime, it was also discovered that someone  may or may not have flushed marbles down the toilet at some unknown point in time.  The toilet on our boat runs via vacuum and pistons (don't think about it too much - it's gross).  ANYWAY, when there are marbles in there, vacuums don't seal and pistons can't move.   Also pretty important?  Toilets.  Especially when you're heading off on an 8 month excursion.  Et voila - our new departure date was 10/10.  Well, wouldn't you know it, but we have had the most bizarre and...
3 comments
Read more

Wait...where are we?

There was scant internet available for much of the remaining stretch of the Mississippi River or as we made out way onto the Tombigbee River, so many of the memories we created are going to be a blur.  I'll try to capture the highlights here. We left Hoppie's Marina as early as the Coffeeville Dam said they didn't have a back-up of barges waiting.  Other than Dresden locks where we had to overnight, we have really been lucky with Dams as far as I can remember.  We haven't had to wait much at all, despite war stories from other boaters of four to six hour waits at some locks.  The river really looked a lot alike as we traveled down, and there wasn't much that was remarkable.  We had a couple of anchorage nights before Paducah-  nothing spectacular, but we always make the most of  the "ground time" we have!  The Handsome Captain is always good for a fire, a steady hand as the Littles climb fallen trees of dubious stability, and adult beverages to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

YOU get new props, and YOU get new props!

In light of the flooding on the rivers, they should consider placing Oprah in the middle of Mobile Bay. "You get new props, YOU get new props, and YOU get new props!!" I know of scant few boaters who have eluded the obstacles and ended their journey down the rivers without needing at least some repairs. Remember, I'm traveling with a very handsome (sorry Tammy) and capable Captain. We hit a significant something in a well marked channel. Totally pissed and bummed us out, to be truthful. An "are you kidding me???" Sort of moment. But I digress. I've left you out of so much! We found a lovely Anchorage called Kelly's landing where the kids swam with abandon in waters that were for all intents and purposes "cold".  We were almost eaten alive by coyotes. Really. It was one of  those stories where the minute the sun set, we heard "scrambling" in the woods.... And we went silent. "Uhm, honey? Let's get in the dinghy,. Like NOW....
Post a Comment
Read more