Wed Oct 18: Hammond to Joliet free wall

As you know, Captain Rick is in charge of Flotilla #11 - which has grown to 19 boats.  This morning he had us all warming up our engines by 6:45am, and off the dock by 7am.  Energy was running high, as we were all THRILLED to be turning our back on the fickle mistress that is Lake Michigan.  (As a little extra excitement, Rick had to get help from the marina as the winds had twisted our dock so much we had gotten trapped and couldn't get the boat out - that makes it hard to lead a flotilla).

Today's goal was to get to from Hammond to the free wall in downtown Joliet - which is about 1 hour by car, but will take ALL DAY. 

The jaunt across lower Lake Michigan from Hammond into the mouth of the Calumet River is only about 3 miles, but that was the stretch none of us could do in those big winds of last week (25-35 sustained winds, with even higher gusts).  Once on the river, even though this stretch is one giant armpit of industry, we were happy to be going through it. Pretty much the name sums it up: once we crossed the river coming in from Chicago we were in the CalSag Channel and Sanitary & Ship Canal.  Just slips right off the tongue.

Lots of little barge traffic - it was good to practice with 'beginner barges', since we need lots of practice passing while not running into shallow water before the Mississippi River, where we will come across adult barges.

This guy on the left is on the move; the one on the right is stationary.  Neither can/will move for a pleasure boat.  We are called 'plastic boats'.

Rick kept everyone on the move at a speed that accommodated the slowest boats.  With 19 boats there was quite a range of ability, and speed.

Just a little touch of industrial art ...

One of the gauntlets we had to run to as the electric fish barrier-designed to keep Asian Carp out of Lake MI.  It can okay havoc with a boat’s electrical systems, but we all got through ok. The older the boat the less likely you are to have a problem-hooray for boiling an old boat!!

The first lock went pretty smoothly - it was only a 3' drop, and we didn't have to wait too long.  It was such a short drop that many boats didn't have to tie up and could just hold/idle in the lock - so we didn't use our detailed lock plan that Rick spent so much time on.

 

At the second lock, Lockport, anxiety did flare when we got there and discovered a bunch of extra boats, some Looper, some independent (delivery captains are common).  We anticipated this but it was hard not to worry that they would push some of us to a later locking, or otherwise interfere with an already-long day. Again, we weren't allowed to use our lock plan as the Lock Master wanted to arrange everyone.  It was total chaos as we tried to hold in the wind that had sprung up, and follow his directions.  It took about 40 mins, but he did get all 25 boats in.  All I'm going to say is that, if Rick had been in charge, it would have been less of a cluster...  Just sayin'. Also, in the interest of full disclosure, I did scream at someone who was chatting rather then helping us tie on to their boat.  There may have been a swear word, or two, used.  I’m not proud of it…

Chaos getting into the lock and tied up.

Take a good look at the row behind us - you will almost never see SEVEN boats rafted like this.

Same row, after the lock chamber has emptied.  They are all still there, not banged up and still friends!

We were pretty tired out by the time we got to the Joliet wall, where found another Looper boat sitting in the middle of the empty wall.  There was a mad scramble as we got everyone a spot, or a place to raft. Poor Joliet - the mayor had even written a letter to all Loopers, welcoming them and inviting them to enjoy his little city.  Sadly, we arrived at dusk and left the next day before dawn.  Not much of Joliet was enjoyed.  The little park was nice, though - and there was a policeman on the wall as we pulled up, and he helped everyone and even stayed to chat!  I said to him - 'wow, I've never been tied up by a policeman before'.  Some time later I realized that came out wrong....  LOL! 

One of the boats had a drone and was able to get this shot that gives you some small idea of the scope of us.

 

Rick gave us a briefing at 6:30pm and was roundly cheered. He kindly folded the rogue Looper into our group, so now we are 20.  Then he had to go off and run an HOA meeting-even tho he was asleep on his feet…

Everything went reasonably well today, although much of it was on the fly.  The only down note was that the last boat to tie up made a speed mistake and slammed into the little Boston Whaler in front of him, resulting in cracked motor housing, broken fuel lines and power steering damage.  The at-fault boat's insurance will cover the damage, but that poor couple had only been on the Loop FOUR DAYS.... all of us were heartbroken for them. (Many of us also wondered who on earth would do the whole loop in a 24' Boston Whaler - our marriage certainly would not survive that)...

As an aside, it's amazing to me how many of our group has only just started their loop.  I suppose it is a good time to be heading down to FL.... I guess we just forgot that the trip is not ENDLESS for everyone...and they you can start anywhere.

Off we went to not sleep - tomorrow is the longest and hardest day we will have on this river system...