Tuesday, September 17, 2013

On A Cold And Gray Chicago Mornin


As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
Cause if there's one thing that she don't need
Its another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto
(Elvis ... In the Ghetto) 

Ok no snow but it was the only Chicago song I could think of at the moment. It is gray here today and the rain is falling. Ok maybe Jim Croce-“Bad Bad Leroy Brown” On the south side of Chicago which is where we are and have been since september 12th. Ok East. We arrived in Chicago at exactly the right time as there were sever storm warnings, water spouts and possible tornado sightings on Lake Michigan. Luck must have been with us as we only encountered the heavy winds for about the last 5 miles into Hammond Marina. We had left the heavy areas only hours before. 

10 Miles away from Chicago
5 Miles away from Chicago
We are here! Chicago Illinois USA


Bliss II Arriving in Chicago

Navy Pier 
We are staying at the Horseshoe Casino Marina. Casino, sailors, alcohol who woulda thought that was a good combination. The Maria holds 918 boats and though located at a casino it is relatively quiet and other than the view you would never know. 


The first day Friday the thirteenth we proceeded to the Calumet River where we unstepped the mast. We had this completed at the Skyway shipyard and though it wasn’t a pretty place they were professional, the price was reasonable and I would recommend Bob and his crew to all. We are now power boaters until Mobile Alabama. 

North Wind gusting 25 knots!
Bliss on their way to Skyway shipyard to unstep their mast 

Calumet River 




Removing Masts 



Many bridges on the river system are to low for our 50' mast. Its just got to go!
Bill & Rita

On Saturday the fourteenth the weather was beautiful. It just felt so good to get off the boat and stretch my legs that I went for a walk run for an 1.5 hours. There is a lovely beach to the east of the Casino and on the west side a bird sanctuary and beach. 



It was a perfect morning. In the afternoon Rita and I treated ourselves to some pampering while the men did boat stuff. To top off the evening we went to the casino to see Ron White perform. God might come down and smite me for laughing so hard at his potty mouth but it really was funny. 


Dave & Rita

Me & My Skipper
Barb & Bill of Babsea


As I said earlier it seems to be a gray day so my plan is to tidy the boat, do some writing and reading and quietly enjoy my husbands company. Tomorrow though is Down town Chicago, Navy Pier and the Magnificent Mile. Wooo Hooo. I always boast at being an out door girl but I am getting the hang of this tourist thing down pretty fast. By the way I can not get over how friendly, kind and generous everyone is. Amazing. 

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