The Adventure's Beginning: May 2005

Friday, May 27: Keith and Sharon Hawks, Mechanical Engineering friends who had worked so hard with us all winter and spring to prepare the Lola Marie for departure, arrived around 6:30 AM to help with lines and drive both vehicles back to West Lafayette. We dropped lines at 8:27 AM; the adventure began by exiting the St. Joseph channel ! Our trip across Lake Michigan was delightful (only 1 to 2 foot waves). Our first dockage was the DuSable Marina near Navy Pier in Chicago. We arrived at 11:15 AM and had to cruise the lake front until 12:00 when we could check in. After docking our crew headed out to explore the sights of Chicago. Miles traveled to date: 69.

Saturday, May 28: We pulled the lines at 7:10 AM, stopped for a pump-out and locked through the Chicago Lock at 7:45 AM (our first lock, but only 2 ft!).  The die had been cast: down the Chicago River then the Sanitary and Ship Canal.  By removing only the anchor light we were able to make it under every bridge but one. The exception was the Amtrack railroad bridge . We had to wait until it was raised for a scheduled flotilla of boats leaving winter storage for Lake Michigan.  It was an educational trip down the canal with all the different style lift bridges. We reached Lockport, IL (1:30 pm) for our next lockage (#2, but our first "real" lock with a 40 ft. elev. change).  It was an easy lockage.  By now we were really getting into meeting barge traffic and enjoying sights along the Illinois River.  Our next dockage was Joliet, IL; we arrived at 2:00 PM along the city's Bicentennial Park wall.  This was not the best area in Joliet, but it was free dockage with electricity and just across from Harrah's. What more could one ask for?  Given the area, it was challenging to find an eatery that would deliver pizza.  Miles traveled to date: 107.

Sunday, May 29: Our first crew change early this morning.  Keith and Sharon Hawks drove their van to Joliet so John and his family could drive it back to West Lafayette. The Hawks will continue with us until Wednesday, June 8.  We departed Joliet at 10:55 AM with the new crew. We soon reached the Brandon Road Lock (#3); a four hour wait while tugs were locked through going both ways!  We waited patiently (not), but were finally given the green light to enter.  We're getting better at locking and feel more confident.  It was on to our dockage for the night, Harborside Marina near Wilmette, IL.  So far the weather has been perfect and the water smooth as silk (Lola's kind of water).  It's very different traveling on the river than on Lake Michigan!  We arrived at 4:25 PM.  ASABE friends from New Lenox IL, Gale and Donna Holloway, met us for dinner at the on-site restaurant.  Miles traveled to date: 121.

Memorial Day, May 30: We dropped lines at 8:15 AM with a destination of Henry, IL, "a small marina with lots of character." Today was a three-lock day: the Dresden Lock (#4) wait was one hour, the Marseilles Lock (#5) was a thirty minute wait and the Starved Rock Lock (#6) was forty-five minutes. Our dockage for the night was along the old abandoned canal lock, 90 ft. of rugged, sharp limestone.  No cleats, but plenty of tree roots and trees! We have pictures of Larry's knot tying skills, but he refused to add them to the web claiming all that mattered was "they held and could be untied".  However, electricity was available and numerous fenders protected the boat from damage.  Having passed three locks, when we arrived at Henry at 7:30 PM all eateries had run out of food and closed for the night. There were lots of white ducks on the island across from the yacht.  Miles traveled to date: 198.

Tuesday, May 31: We are up and rearing to go for Peoria, IL after opting to forgo showers in the modest available facilities.  We pulled lines at 8:45 am. We had studied Captain Rick Rhodes' excellent Cruising Guide from Lake Michigan to Kentucky Lake and selected the Illinois Valley Yacht Club (IVY) for our dockage this evening; it was a real winner! With no locks today, we arrived at 11:40 AM.  Larry's 92 year old mother, sister Sharon and husband George drove from the Decatur, IL to spend the afternoon with us.  They brought fresh produce from brother-in-law's garden: strawberries, radishes and green onions!  What a treat! We lunched at the nearby Fire House Bar and Grill.  After the family left we decided to add another night to our IVY dockage. Miles traveled to date: 227.

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