After years of dreaming and months of preparation, we embarked on our Great Loop journey today, traveling down the Little Calumet and Illinois Rivers from Marine Services in Dolton, IL to Spring Brook Marina in Seneca IL. Technically, it began Monday, August 19 when we left our home port of Diversey Harbor in Chicago for Marine Services for boat maintenance. Like today, Monday was beautiful and the water like glass. We arrived at the boatyard and they "tuned up" the Kristin Says, making her voyage ready. Our good friend Robin graciously offered to take us and all our gear to the boatyard Friday afternoon so we could stay on the boat and leave early Saturday. Captain Randy was getting quite anxious when Robin was caught in Kennedy traffic and arrived late - would we make it all the way to Dolton before Marine Services closed for the evening? Yes! We made it with time to spare. Soon Captain Jamie and his wife Deb came and took us to Cocula's in Calumet City for a festive send-off dinner that we enjoyed very much.
We left Marine Services at 7:14 AM and arrived at the Lockport Lock at 10:05. Luckily there was no waiting and we were through by 10:25. We had similar luck at Brandon Road Lock, arriving at 10:52 and left at 11:17. Our luck was not as good at Dresden Island Lock, where we waited 17 minutes to get into the lock and then were "stuck" halfway down while the Lock Master was busy with a surveyor. Finally, we descended the rest of the way and were out by 1:35 PM. Done with locks for today. As First Mate, I had to move the fenders and lines back and forth from port to starboard, depending on which side we were instructed to tie up on, and I feel like a pro after doing it 3 times.
The river changed throughout the day, beginning as more of a commercial waterway with barges and tugs and ending with more recreational traffic. William G Stratton State Park at Morris, IL has 4 boat launches and there were lots of small ski boats, kayaks, pontoons and jet skis. There were several "mini playpens" with boats pulled up to the river bank and people swimming and having fun in the water. One such place is Berry Island, and boats there were "bowed in" to the shore; a few had ladders off the bow for access. There were still barges in the river, some pulled off to the side and they are huge!
We pulled into Spring Brook Marina at 3:25 PM and tied up for the night. Spring Brook has a restaurant overlooking the river and we enjoyed some afternoon refreshments and dinner later this evening. True to form, Captain Randy could not locate the keys he had just used to lock up the boat before we were 50 feet away from it on our way to check in. So, being the trusty First Mate that `I am, I went back to the boat and found the missing keys - the first of many times over the course of this trip I am sure!
We are back on the boat relaxing after dinner. On to Hamm's Holiday Harbor in Rome, IL tomorrow. We have just 2 locks to go through tomorrow and I hope we get through as quickly as we did today. Looking forward to more adventures!!
PS We have photos to add to this post as soon as we have access to the internet.
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