Henry, Ill.

IT IS COLD!!!!!!!!!

We left for Henry at 8:00 with frost all over the boat. Ivar tried to walk up the ramp from the dock and couldn't do it because it was too icy! It is 28 degrees. We had to wait at the first lock 45 minutes for it to be ready for us and then got to the next lock and waited there also about 45 minutes. The lockmasters don't let you tie up to wait at these locks, you just have to float around all that time. It has something to do with national security and other rules.

Ivar had a tough day on his body. He hit his head 3 times, same door and same spot on his head!! He got his finger caught in the side door and banged his knee so hard it has a huge lump. That happened through his long underwear and flannel-lined jeans!! Cocktail time couldn't come soon enough to ease the pain!

Our trip today was 56 miles and we saw only one other pleasure boat. They must think 45 degrees is too cold to be out on the water.

Our destination today was very interesting. It is an old lock which has been made into a marina with a restaurant. Most of the lock is missing, the walls are rough but we did have power. When we wanted off the boat we got off from the flybridge! The Asian Carp were jumping all over out of the water when we pulled in to tie up.

This is not the usual way we plug in our power cords!

The view in the morning was
great!!

Seneca, Illinois

The Rhody Ray was underway at 7:45 but didn't leave Joliet until 8:30 because we needed to have a bridge opening. We started out and found out about the bridge. We went back to our docking spot on the wall to wait about 1/2 hour and have another cup of coffee. This was a short day, only 36 miles. After 2 locks and alot of bridges we arrived at Spring Brook Marina in Seneca about 2:00. The marina let us use their van so we went to the grocery store and out to eat. Someone at the restaurant was having a birthday so we had birthday cake for dessert!

Di, Ivar and Bob walked to the office to check in. It was too cold for me.

The weather was cold but sunny and when we told Di and Ivar to bring warm clothes, they did!

Joliet, Illinois

Di, Ivar, Bob and I left Chicago Sunday morning Oct. 26th at 7:15. It was cold and windy going the 12 miles across Lake Michigan. We entered the Cal Sag Channel, which joined the Little Calumet River and then the Chicago Sanitary & Shipping Canal. This took us to the Illinois River. The area is very industrial. We saw a few barges but not many pleasure boats.




We had to go through 2 locks today and the 2nd one was the windiest one we had been in so far on the trip. The locks are much bigger now, 600' x 110', for the small ones. The wind was at least 35+ miles per hour and we went down about 40'. Things in the air were blowing around and Ivar lost his cap. He had to hurry down to the back of the boat to pick it up out of the water. We were the only one in both locks which was nice so we could tie up where we wanted.



Di and Ivar are dressed in all the heavy clothes they brought with them. It takes all of us to go through these locks and to watch the boat, line, fenders and the wall.














The bridge Bob has been dreading from day one was cleared today with plenty of room. Bob drove and Ivar stood in the back watching to make sure we had enough clearance. This was one more weight off his mind.
Joliet, Ill. was our destination tonight. We travelled about 50 miles today.
When we looked at a map it was as if we hadn't left Chicago! We were still in the area!! We tied up to a wall downtown and across the river was Harrahs casino. Supper tonight was at the casino!




This was our attire for the week. It sure cuts down on the amount of time needed to decide what to wear!!! We put on as many layers as we could fit under and over jackets.

CHICAGO, ILL

We left Grand Haven on Oct. 18th at 7:30 when it was still dark. We have about 100+ miles to go to cross Lake Michigan to Chicago. John has been watching the weather and today looks like the best day to cross with the lowest wave height for the coming week. Sounds good to me!

John made brunch for us. We arrived in Chicago at 1:30 but could see the skyline for about 20 miles before we got here. We decided to stay at the Chicago Yacht Club. This was the recommendation from John and Sharon's friend Jeff, who has a boat there.

We ate at the Chicago Yacht Club with Jeff our first night here and then he took us for a night tour of the city after supper. The harbor was really rough during the night and Bob and John were up several times checking the lines. We decided to move to a different marina the next day.

CHICAGO YACHT CLUB

Sunday, Oct. 19 we moved to the DuSable Harbor and Marina. It is much calmer here!

We do have to pay for these marinas because they are open until November 2nd. It still is much cheaper than the east coast. We walked downtown to have pizza and watch the Vikings play the Bears. Sharon and I decided to walk the Miracle Mile instead and do some window shopping.

The weather just hasn't been very nice since we have been here. We have managed to do a few things. We walked over to Navy Pier, went to the Planetarium, visited Millenium Park and saw the musical Jersey Boys. John and Sharon's friend Jeff, and his friend Elena, went with us to the musical. It was just great and no one fell asleep after a big supper at the Italian restaurant, The Village.

John, Sharon and Bob with Chicago in the background.












The weather wasn't very nice so we were on the boat alot. John and Sharon left on Wednesday to go back to Detroit. We really had a good time and were glad for their support in getting us safely to Chicago.

Bob and I did housekeeping things on the boat for a few days until our friends Diane and Ivar Peterson arrived on Saturday.

While Diane and Ivar got acquainted with the Rhody Ray, I watched Paul install the river system on our navigation computer. It took longer than he thought it would. He worked about 7 hours on it. In the meantime, Bob, Ivar and Diane went out to eat and got groceries for the next part of the trip. They made it back to the boat just in time for the fireworks display that is held every Friday and Saturday night.

Frankfort and Grand Haven, MI

Thursday, Oct. 16th we traveled to Frankfort, MI which is about 90 miles. We didn't leave until about 9:45 and arrived at 5:00. Today we had 6' waves and the water was rough. I didn't do very well on this part of the trip. It is so nice to put my feet on land after a day like this one!

The marina was closed so we tied up to the fuel dock. We didn't have power but it was free!

Bob and John are cooking supper!!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY ERIK & ALISON

Friday, Oct. 17th we left Frankfort at 7:45 to go to Grand Haven. Daylight is a little later now so we get to leave later!!! Today was my kind of cruising day!!! We had 1-2 ft. waves and just had a nice, easy day on the water. We arrived at 5:45 at the Grand Haven Municipal Marina and guess what? We have power but it is free!!!!! After the prices we paid in marinas on the east coast we are really getting into the free marinas on Lake Michigan. John and Sharon usually sail during the summer or early September but John really likes this idea of free marinas and alot of vacancies also! Watch out Sharon-next year this could be you on a boat in November!!!

Cruising along on Lake Michigan

Harbor Springs, MI

We left for Harbor Springs on Oct. 15th about 7:30 a.m. and traveled 50 miles. We had 3-5 foot waves which I considered rough water. Needless to say I couldn't wait to get there! We arrived about 1:30 and had the marina to ourselves again and it was free!! Sharon and I did some more shopping after we walked to the marina parts store with the guys.

Sharon and John also take turns with us at the helm.

This evening we had the pleasure of seeing Kara, Bob's niece, who is originally from Bismarck. We also got to meet her husband, Pete and her two children, Jack and Anna. They joined us for supper at the restaurant at the marina. It was great to spend some time with them.

Mackinac Island

We left our anchorage about 7:30 a.m. to go across the North Channel, we cut through to Lake Huron and we were back in the United States by about 12:30 p.m! The water was just like glass so we cruised slowly and just relaxed. We traveled about 110 miles to Mackinac Island.

We had the marina all to ourselves and it was free!!

Just relaxing after the trip.

We stayed at Mackinac Island for 2 nights. We actually got to walk up to the Grand Hotel and by the front porch. Usually only guests of the hotel get to go that far. We went for a carriage ride around the island with Abe and Doc, the horses, and Tabby the driver. It was too windy to go on bikes and then it left more time for Sharon and I to do some shopping.

Sharon and I after shopping!

The island is very colorful this time of year.

Benjamin Islands

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIK!!!!!!!!

We left Killarney about 9:00 a.m to go to the Benjamin Islands in the North Channel. Again today we had great water conditions and gorgeous scenery. We stopped for lunch in Little Current and walked to the grocery store.

We had another first for us tonight. We used the anchor! We anchored out in an area between South and North Benjamin Islands.

We took the dinghy for a ride around the islands and walked around on the shore exploring the rocks. I used this picture of Bob and I showing us from the waist up because when we got off the dinghy to go ashore guess who fell in the water!!! The rocks are very slippery when wet and my pants are wet to above my knees!

If you look closely you can see our dinghy and to the upper right you can see our boat through the trees. Everything went great and we were in the same place in the morning!!

Midland to Killarney, Ontario

John, Sharon, Bob and I left Midland about 7:15 a.m. on Oct. 11th in some light fog. We just cruised slowly for about 3 hours and enjoyed the scenery.

The air was cool so we were all dressed in our heaviest clothes. Bob got some experience driving from the lower station when we decided we needed to warm up. We had perfect water conditions to go 120 miles across the Georgian Bay.

Killarney is located at the western end of the Georgian Bay. We were going to anchor in a place just past there called Covered Portage Cove. As we were headed there we met Bill in his boat and he suggested we stay at "his brother's dock." When we were all tied up there Bill took us for a ride in his boat into the cove we were going to stay at and then to his house to meet his wife, Val. They are from Vermillion, Ohio and are in Killarney most of the year but go to Ohio for a few months. Bill also took us for a ride around the area and pointed out the route we would take the next day.

"Bill's brother's dock"

Enjoying our first night on the water.

Bill's fantastic house in the woods.

BACK ON THE WATER

WE FINALLY GOT THE WORD THE BOAT WAS READY! We flew to Toronto, Ontario on Oct. 8th and drove to Midland where the boat has been since July. A couple from Detroit are joining us for the ride to Chicago. John Holt (originally from Grafton)and his wife Sharon sail in the area and are going to be with us for about 2 weeks.
We stayed on the boat on Oct. 9th and had a sea trial on Oct. 10th. Everything went great!
Bob and John got the dinghy in the water(first time for the dinghy) and we tested it out in the marina and the bay by the Doral Marina. We provisioned the boat again and got ready to leave for Killarney on Oct. 11th.