Day 2: Sunday Sept, 28, 2014 Marine Services Dolton, Il. to Joilet, Il.
Locks: 1 Mileage: 46 miles traveled
Colletta and I along with our 2 cats ( George and Knuckles) departed Marine Services ( mile marker 324.2) at 8:32 headed south. We went by our old boat club on the river the Lake Calumet Boat and Gun Club in Dolton where our boating career started back in the late 70's. Many of our old haunts from those days look like they have been riden' hard and put away wet. None look better today with the exception of where we stayed last night. Marine Services looks better that the old days. At 1055 at mm 303.4 we merged with the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal. I called the Lockport Lock and they said things looked pretty clear but that could change. Remember that could change. Going down the Lockport commercial corridor. Lots of tow traffic. We had to hide in mooring slips and behind barges so the tows could get by. Very narrow and very busy and this was Sunday. I had planned to cruise thru here on Sunday hoping this would not be so busy. At 12:34 we arrived at the Lockport Lock. This is the same lock that when Tom Mirus and I brought the boat up from Texas in 2011 broke and we had to wait for 6 hours until 10:30 at night. Well it came up to bite me in the butt again. The lockmaster said they had to lock thru a double which means the barges are too many to make it thru the lock at one time so they break the load apart. The lockmaster said to take our timeLocks as it would take 2 hours to lock the tows thru. Well he was not much of a judge of time as we didn't get the call to come to the lock until 4:45 pm. By that time the Bears had gotten their butts whipped by the Packers which we got to listen to on the radio thru the Packers radio network. They have a different perspective then the Bears announcers. With the Bear game going badly Colletta got bored and took a wall along the canal wall. I don't think I have ever had anyone get off the boat and go for a walk before, We got into the lock at 5:15 and out at 5:45. While we were waiting on the wall to lock thru the lock we had 2 other trawlers come in and tie up. We were the welcoming committee.. Allez and Beulah Belle. After we finally got out of the lock we had 3 miles to go to the free wall tie up in downtown Joliet( 30 amp power included) I like free. But first a tow with 10 barges asked the Ruby Street bridge tender if she would hold us up until he went by. So we waited. Not exactly something new. Turned out it was a good request. With all his barges and the narrow channel it would have not been fun. Finally arrived at the free dock at 6:50 pm. We tied upfirst and then helped the others tie up. The AGLCA has harbor hosts so Dale and Brenda Karlson stopped by. Bob and Helen Kovach on the trawler Allez had called them prior to our arrival. They told us great local knowledge that will be helpful in our travels. Had a great dinner of casserole that Colletta had frozen. Just microwave. Who wants to cook after a long day on the water. We are looking for 4 or 5 ingredient recipes that we can make ahead during the day when we travel.
Colletta just reminded me two things I forgot to mention. Today we counted 48 blue, grey, and white herons on the waterway. Also while going thru a remote area of Palos Park, Illinois there was a unmistakeable strong aroma of bacon. I mean strong and who doesn't like bacon.
