Chicago to Joliet

  We timed our Chicago departure so we made it through down town before the tourist boats cranked up at 1000. What we didn't count on was the water taxis. We were the only boat in the 600 foot Chicago lock and it only drops you about 2 feet, easy peasy. The ride through downtown was so cool, especially after we had confidence that we wouldn't rip the canvas off the boat going under bridges. Once past downtown Chicago we passed many barges tied to the banks at industrial facilities. We were lucky and only had to pass on very big tow and had nothing coming up river. We made it safely through the Asia Carp electric barrier area. This area has electricity in the water to stop the carp from getting to Lake Michigan. You die if you fall in! http://www.lrc.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorksProjects/ANSPortal/Barrier.aspx
Tomorrow we will have more bridge, more locks and more adventures as we head down river.

 Entering the Chicago lock that separated Lake Michigan. This lock was established to reverse the flow of the Chicago river and the sanitary canal. That way the Chicagoans don't pee were they drink. Bets is in full rain gear due to a wet morning and that slug is high and dry on the bridge.

 Chicago fire boats. They are designed to go under the low bridges in town.

 The Michigan Ave bridge was  about 18'. We took it very slow so Bets could tell me how much room we had. The top of Fryedaze is at 16.5 feet. She said we had 1 1/2 to 2 feet of clearance, but then she cant measure because of the little lie I have told her most of her life.

 Low bridge everybody down!

 This railroad bridge has a 10' clearance. Betsy call and they opened her right up for us.

 The canal is in a very industrial area. Oil tank farms, scrap yards, pulp yards, huge gravel and sand yards and lots of old decaying industrial buildings.

 UFO!!!  ok, maybe its just the Metlife blimp.

 Lots and lots of wood pulp. Looks like a bigger version of the mulch operation just north of saint Leonard. We lover the wood smell.

 Exiting the Lockport lock. We were in the lock with two other pleasure boats and a tow that had six barges that were about 500 feet long.