Chicago to Joliet

WOW!  What a thrill cruising through downtown Chicago! Left our slip Monday morning at 7:30am after a beautiful sunrise over Lake Michigan. Crazy! Went through our first lock- a 3 foot drop - inside Navy Pier. The view of the bustling city was impressive. Had to wait briefly for a railroad bridge to open for us. The Electric Fish Barrier (Asian carp) was shut down for maintenance for a couple hours. Once opened, we continued downstream to Lockport Lock which is a 38 foot drop.
We spent the night tied up to the city wall in Joliet with 6 other Looper boats.

Chicago!

On the seventh day the lake rested. This gave us a glorious day to cross Lake Michigan.
Left St Joseph at 7:30am and arrived at our Marina next to Navy Pier at 1:30pm Chicago time.

It was a 58 mile crossing and we started to see the Chicago skyline 45 miles out.
Five miles off the Chicago shoreline, we stopped for our last swim in Lake Michigan. 70 degree water! After dinner at Navy Pier, Steve and Paul removed the radar dome and other items by the light of the full moon,  in perpetration for bridge clearances to travel through downtown Chicago tomorrow.

St Joseph again

Still here. We moved from the the sea wall to a marina slip. Paul and Cindy arrived just before the big storm hit. The Pura Vida handled the wild winds and rain very well. Lost power had to run the generator in the slip to make our fabulous chips and cheese.

Weather looks awesome to cross to Chicago tomorrow.

St Joseph, Michigan

 Our adventure has begun! After coffee and tears with our moms on Tuesday morning, we headed out the channel and turned left. We then looked at each other and said "now what"? A few more tears were shed as we passed mom waving from her cottage at Port Sheldon.  We had a sunny, smooth 5 hour cruise to South Haven. After settling in at the Marina, we took a dinghy ride out to Lake Michigan for a swim.

Wednesday morning was beautiful. We leisurely cruised to St Joseph. We stopped to swim and cool off multiple times along the way. (Boy are we going to miss the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan.)
Our friends Deb & Jeff drove down to meet us for dinner. It was great to see them, but meant one more emotional goodbye.

The captain has informed the crew the weather for the next two days does not look good. We will continue to watch the weather as from here we plan to cross Lake Michigan to Chicago.

First weather delay! Captain Steve determined wisely we best batten down the hatches and wait out the storm.  Tomorrow's weather looks much more promising! Pura Vida!

Thanks to all who came out to Grand Haven this past weekend to see the Pura Vida and hug us goodbye!  We will miss you all!  We traveled one mile today, back to our own marina - Whew!
Planning to begin our Great Loop on September 1 weather permitting! 

Countdown until departure - 33 days!  Working hard to get ready!

Steve & Sheli