Joliet, Illinois

We traveled down the Little Calumet River in calm winds and mild temperatures.  We joined the Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal. We cruised under the lowest stationary bridge along this waterway, Burlington Northern Bridge.  It's clearance is generally 19.1'.  We anticipated a 1' clearance (with our anchor light lowered and radio antenna's down).  It ended up being a 2.5' clearance!  We locked down 39' on the Lockport Lock. We had the lock all to ourselves and it was the easiest drop down a lock to date. The large floating bollard that we were allowed to actually tie our boat to  (and not have to hold that line in hand), along with the zero current and zero water rush turbulence while locking made it as smooth as an elevator!  I did loop an additional mid-ship dock line around bollard, which Charlie held, in anticipation of turbulence.  It wasn't needed, I was able to be hands-free during the lock down process and take pics!  Thank you Army Corp of Engineers!  We then went down the Des Plains River to the city wall, Bicentennial Park, in Joliet, Illinois.  We appreciate this free dock wall along with free electricity!  We are docked across from Harrah's Casino next to a municipal building with local law enforcement a few yards from us.  By late afternoon, three more Loopers docked next to us.

Barges have priority.

Cal-Sag/Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal Intersection Light 

Lowest stationary bridge approach. Surely, Charlie's math will allow successful clearance with today's water level datum?!

Success!

Barge blocking waterway.

Autumn temps all day.

We are "here", using the mAIS website.

We thank the courteous barge captains for informing us that entering this new "Fish Electric Zone" only one barge/tug/pleasure vessel can be in this stretch of the waterway. Each vessel must announce arrival through this stretch, hold outside this stretch while waiting other vessels,  and announce their departure from this stretch of the waterway.

Electric shock area to deter Asian Carp entering Lake Michigan. (Who would want to swim in this sanitation canal?!)

Barge loading cargo.

Approaching lock and waiting for gates to open.

Ready to enter lock. 

Leaky lock doors with electric shock wires above lock doors to deter Asian Carp getting upstream to Lake Michigan.

Electric shock wires with debris, before lowered.

Huge floating bollard to loop line around.

Going down.

Almost finished locking down.

Lock gate opening to exit.

Lock closing behind us.

Hi neighbors!

By late afternoon, additional Loopers docked next to us.

Free electrical outlets are cleverly disguised here.

Although, much of the dock wall horizontal surface is deteriorating, we strategically tied boat to this new pad to exit boat.  One of the benefits of arriving early and being the first boat to tie up.

At port, Bicentennial Park, Joliet, Illinois