Day 7 - September 20, 2012: A day to catch up

We liked Heritage Harbor so well, we stayed another day to restock, clean up the boat, and relax.

Sometimes you are struck by strange coincidences:
     1. Heritage Harbor is located in Ottawa, Ill., and we live in Ottawa County, MI.
     2. We found ourselves in a marina with 2 other loopers, both of whom have stored their boats in the same Spring Lake marina we did.
What are the odds of that?

Ottawa, Ill is best known as the site of one of the Lincoln/Douglas debates. They have a statue of the two debating in the park, and if it is true to scale, Lincoln was at least 2 ft taller than Douglas!

Anne makes a great salad for lunch. Note she grows fresh herbs, has an HDTV giving her the latest news, and an Ipad to give her new recipes.

Chef Anne 

Day 6 - On the Illinois River: September 19, 2012

The river has its own personality from morning to night. We woke to sunrise and a steam over the water.

Harborside Marina

Marina docks

We are getting more confident in the locks. After the doors open and there is a green light, we motor in and slip a line from the center of the tug to a bollard built into the lock wall. This bollard floats down with the boat. Here Anne is holding our 20,000 lb tug to the bollard with ease. A typical drop here is 30-40 ft per lock.

Arriving at Heritage Harbor Marina mid-afternoon, we were surprised to find a 5-star facility with modern floating docks, a restaurant, a pool, and a brand new car with only 600 miles that they let us use at no cost.

Heritage Harbor Marina

Great Laker at rest

Day 5 - The Chicago Sanitary Ship Canal: September 18, 2012

Our first of 115 locks to come! How can one express the excitement? Anne was quite nervous and came through with flying colors by setting the fenders, donning gloves, and holding us fast to the line hanging from the starboard wall. While we dropped only 3 ft, this was a good warm-up for more to come.

Entering the Chicago Harbor Lock

As we passed under the 49 bridges in the Chicago area, many people waved to us. Why is it that we get waves from people we don't know while on a boat in the river? No one waves at us from the sidewalk when we drive by on the street. I'm sure they don't recognize us, don't think we are celebrities, and never expect to see us again. Maybe they are expressing appreciation for what we are doing that they would like to do as well?

After two more locks, one 39 ft down and one 34 ft down, we passed Joliet and chose to stay at the Harborside Marina.

Day 4 - More Chicago Sightseeing: September 17, 2012

The Chicago Institute for the Arts, sushi for lunch, and a relaxing afternoon on Great Laker.

Day 3 - Chicago: September 16, 2012

What a fabulous early morning view from Great Laker!

Morning coffee on the sun deck

We walked the Navy Pier and then took the highly recommended Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise. There are dozens of buildings with creative and differing architectures built over the last 100 years.

Entrance to Illinois River

Sears Tower

Trump Tower

Cityfront Place

Day 2 - Crossing Lake MI: Sept 15, 2012

After a night in St. Joseph, which by the way has a wonderful old downtown with great shops and restaurants right on the lake, we left to cross Lake MI to Chicago.

When you mention cruising on the Great Lakes to Loopers (who are mostly from other areas) they have a somewhat negative reaction. They have heard of the waves and weather that can churn up the lake to intolerable levels and cause weather delays in boating travel. This fear does have some justification as there are an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 shipwrecks lying on the floor of the Great Lakes, and some of these are major freighters or ocean going vessels.  No one likes to get out offshore and unexpectedly get buffeted by 4-6 or 5-7 ft. waves (especially Admiral Anne).

We started with a forecast of 1-3 ft. waves, settling down to 1 ft. or less, and were fortunate that the forecast came true. The crossing was sunny and pleasant as we approached the famous Chicago skyline. We docked at the Columbia Yacht Club which is a short walking distance from the heart of Chicago.

First sighting

Me, too

The skyline is dramatic and very captivating.  

Chicago Sears and Trump Towers are the tallest

Day 1 - Heading out on the Great Loop!

After 2 1/2 years of planning and preparing, today we departed on our dream adventure. We left our home on Spring Lake, took the Grand River through Grand Haven, and turned south toward St. Joseph. 

Packed, warming up the engine, and ready to go from our home in Spring Lake

Bon Voyage (thanks Dave for the pictures)

Turning south at the Grand Haven Lighthouse toward St. Joseph
We plan to cross our wake here when returning next summer