Starting the Inland Rivers

Saturday September 29th we left Michigan City, Indiana and ran across the lower eastern end of Lake Michigan to the south end and came in at Hammond, Indiana.  We had some nautical conditions crossing on Saturday (seas 4 to 6 feet early) so instead of going our normal 8 -10 knots we put the throttle down and ran at about 1850 rpms (20 miles per hour) which was a much more comfortable ride.

View of Downtown Chicago as we came across to Hammond

We got into Hammond early at around 10:30 AM and had the day to relax.  We also spent Sunday there as we were not in any hurry and Keith wanted to watch the Ryder Cup.  Sunday evening we walked into the Horseshoe Casino which is right at the docks and had a nice steak dinner at Jack Binion's Steakhouse.

Monday morning October 1st bright and early (7:15AM) we headed out and into the river system.  Our first several miles was along the Calumet-Saganashkee Channel and then the Chicago Sanitary and Ship canal and eventually into the Illinois River.   This is a very industrial area with a lot of tows and barges.

Barges and a tow coming up in front of us

Not all that pretty here

Stock piling salt for the winter

There was a cute park area where the Cal-Sag Channel and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal come together.

There were also two locks to traverse Monday.  We had to wait a little while at one for a tow and several barges to come through.

Barge passing us coming out of a lock

Here is the floating bollard we use to go through the lock.  Captain Keith left a Southern Style sticker, I am so going to jail for defacing government property.

There was also a fixed railroad bridge named the Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge that is 19 feet 6 inches that we had to squeeze under.  We made it fairly easily, however it certainly gives one some butterflies watching it pass overhead.

Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge

Here is the top of Southern Style.  Will we make it?

I think we'll make it, it's gonna be close.

Yes, we made it!  Keith said we had about a foot to spare.

And an electrified area of the river to deter Asian Carp from coming up into the Great Lakes

Don't stick your toe in the water here

We arrived in Joliet, IL around 2:00 PM and tied up at the free docks in downtown.  The area is a little sketchy according to some.  There is a police presence however, so that is reassuring.

Southern Style and several other "Loopers" tied up in Joliet Monday evening

Police cars in the lot alongside the free docks in Joliet

In all a successful first day on the rivers.  No long hang-ups, nobody got hurt and nobody got electrocuted.  Good times!