MILES TRAVELED: 41 NM
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| JOLIET, OUR HOME FOR TONIGHT |
By 9:30 we were on our way! Dan had already returned the rental and we had moved to the fuel dock where we filled up and pumped out.
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| DAN AND DEBBIE AT THE FUEL DOCK |
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| JUDY BLOGGING AND DEBBIE DRIVING |
At mile marker 222.5 we crept into the Calumet River, the beginning of the Illinois Waterway system. What to expect? We had to request an opening almost immediately from the92ed Street Bridge with the 100th Street Bridge following closely behind. While inching under passable bridges, passing through industrial hubs, squeaking by tugs with their massive barge floats we worked our way to the first lock.
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ENTERING THE CALUMET RIVER OPEN PLEASE AND THANK YOU |
At the Thomas J. O'Brien Lock (mile 326.5) we sort of bumbled through, not knowing what to expect. Actually it was just way too simple and we were over-thinking it. We could either tie up or hover in the middle of the huge lock as they lowered us a heaping 2’.
 Image via Wikipedia |
| T. J O'BRIEN LOCK AND DAM |
By 1:30 we finally joined the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Channel.(mm 303.5) We are really on our way now! Our “low bridge” was soon to follow but we cleared the 19” Burlington Northern Santé Fe RXR Bridge (mm 300.5) with no problems. Dan will be able to re-affix our mast at day’s end a have no more need to lower it again on this journey.
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| MARKER AND JUNCTION FOR THE CAL-SAG AND THE CHICAGO SANITARY AND SHIP CANAL  |
It’s really kind of cool rubbing elbows with the huge barges and their tugs. We saw everything from wood chips, to spools of bulk wire, asphalt, grain, salt and gravel being loaded onto the waiting barges. When wishing to pass or overtake a moving barge you first contact the tug for directions. He will advise you to proceed on “one bell”, which is with your port side to( him) or on “two bells” with your starboard to.
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SHIPPING BARGE GRAND BARGES TIED TOGETHER  CRANES WORKING  WE ARE TRAVELING THROUGH A WORKING CLASS AREA  PILES OF COAL |
At the Lockport lock and Dam (mm291), we were welcomed in after a short time at the pre-transiting tie up. Once in the lock we waited for two more approaching vessels and visited with the lock handlers. They were most helpful and full of informational tidbits about the locks and what to expect down river. When Cutie Girl from Panama City, Fl and Double Trouble of St. Joseph, MI joined us, we began our 39’descent.
 Image via Wikipedia |
| LOCKPORT LOCK AND DAM |
Exiting the lock we merged with the Des Plaines River (mm 290) before requested openings of the Ruby Street, Jackson Street, Cass Street and the Jefferson Street Bridges and found ourselves right at the Joliet (mm288) town wall where we tied up and spent the night.
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