There are three other factors in this decision.....you can only travel through the Asian Fish Barriers on Saturday or Sunday....they are closed weekdays from 7AM to 4PM....AND Lockport Lock and Dam will be closed two days next week.....AND a barge has sunk at East 106th Street Bascule Bridge and they are getting ready to close this area........
We depart Michigan City IN at 7:20AM
Built in 1904, the lighthouse has become the most popular symbol of Michigan City and is the only public operating lighthouse in Indiana. The elevated walkway, known as the "catwalk", was used by lighthouse keepers for 29 years to access the light tower. In 1933, this light was electrified, and in 1939, the US Coast Guard took over the service.
We have enjoyed our stay
We follow the coastline around the southern end of the lake
Our last Sand Dunes
2-4 feet sheep on our bow
Staying away from the Indiana Shoals
We are 12 miles from downtown Chicago
Chicago from Calumet Harbor
Pat sent us a few photo moments of Chicago which I am including.....another time for the Windy City........
Entering Calumet Harbor
Our last look at Lake Michigan
Welcome to the Rivers
We are entering the Calumet River and Sag Channel
Waiting for Kool Cat to park his load of barges
92nd Bridge is 18.4 feet.....we wait for an opening
We can get under 95th Street Bascule Bridge at 23.7 feet
Stop at Crowley's Yacht Yard to fix the davit on the dinghy
When we came into Calumet Harbor a bolt on the davit snapped dropping one end of the dinghy in the water. It was secure but we needed to find a place where the Captain could fix the problem......Nice people at Crowley's.....helped us with a new bolt and said "no charge"......Crowley's is where the sailboat people have their mast removed so they can travel on the rivers to Mobile.....
East 100th Street Bascule Bridge
The Captain ask for an opening as our information said 18.7 feet.....the bridge tender ask our height.......Captain said 19 feet......Bridge tender said we had 20 feet and were clear to go through......well we hit the top.......and of course....we have damages...would the bridge tender talk to the Captain after that....well...no.....was the captain upset....well....yes.....
East 106th Street that is closing to river traffic in 2 hours
We had to wait for the northbound barge and his load
This is why the bridge is closing....divers....sunk barge....
Glad this one is docked.....we had to hug the port because of the work going on
Junction of the Turn Basin Number 5....Proceed straight through to the SW
Waiting for first lock to open.....2 foot drop
The Thomas S O'Brien lock was constructed in 1960 to prevent the Calumet River from draining into Lake Michigan as well as to prevent rising water on Lake Michigan from raising the level of the river. The name "Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal" means just what the name implies. The Calumet Sag Channel connects with this canal and this canal connects with the inland rivers permitting ship traffic to go south via this system, and to take all sanitary waste south. Put another way, Chicago's waste does not pollute Lake Michigan, it flows south contributing to pollution on the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers ending up in the Gulf of Mexico.
From this point south to the Ohio River we will be on a down stream run more than 500 miles
We arrive at Marine Services located in a basin in time for a repairman to fix our bridge damages and spend the next two nights
Plus we are off the water for an Illinois severe thunderstorm
5 Looper Boats for the night
This has been quite a day.......we lick our wounds and have a quiet dinner....our first meal today.....Saddi says..."when are you going to feed me"......
We have traveled 1269 miles making it a total of 5269 miles.....we are getting ready to start the last leg of our journey.....the inland rivers......
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