Grafton, Illinois: Completing the Loop!

Captains Mary and Dan upgrade to a Gold Looper burgee after successfully completing 6200 miles on the rivers lakes and waterways of America!

The crew of the Gammel Dansk: Mary and Dan and Tori the Seeing Eye Dog in Grafton, Illinois. 

We crossed our wake on July 21, 2021.  We are now privileged members of the group to call ourselves GOLD LOOPERS!!!

The 1982 #50 Nordic Tug Gammel Dansk and Mary, Dan and Tori the Seeing Eye Dog traveled these 6200+ miles together to become Gold Loopers.

Grafton, Illinois, fireworks as we celebrated crossing our wake.  Mary celebrated by praying thankfully that our Loop was completed and we are close to home.  Dan celebrated by ordering margaritas two at a time.

Float Houses

Float house community on the Illinois River near Wilmington, Illinois. 

We moved through the city of Joliet, Illinois, that has a wall you can tie up to at no charge, but no amenities like electricity and water or showers.  We moved on to Harborside Marina with the float house community.

Locking on the Illinois

Waiting for the tow boat to push barges into the lock.  The commercial vessels have priority and recreational or Ted boats have to wait until the barges have locked through. 
We waited 1-1/2 hours for our turn to lock through.

 

Our turn now!

Chicago River Sights

Barge loaded with sand on the Chicago River.

Sand and gravel being unloaded.  Sand is a commodity that is moved on the rivers by barge for road building and making asphalt.  Lots of barge traffic hauling gravel. 

Asian Carp Prevention

Electric fence to keep Asian Carp out of Lake Michigan

Electric underwater fence that stretches across the River bottom. It must of been working as we did not see one Asian Carp.

Gammel Dansk parks for the night in front of the pink float house for the night.

Motoring Through Chicago on the Gammel Dansk

We left on July 14, and boy was motoring through Chicago on the Chicago River something!

Even without the a tour guide telling us which buildings were what, we were able to figure out this one.

Monkey Business at the Chicago Art Institute

This is a ceramic model of a larger sculpture. 

It is a balloon monkey.  The kind Jerry Brader does.  I was standing on the side of the display representing the monkey’s tail. While standing there trying to figure it out, I heard a woman say to someone I assumed was her husband, in a very Sister Mary Margaret tone, “you'd better start praying for all those impure thoughts you are having."  I struggled to see and then I saw what she saw and what he saw.  The monkey’s tail looked like a very nice-sized penis that would make any guy envious.  Five Hail Marys for you.  RIGHT NOW.  You too, because you see it now.  Get started on those Hail Marys! 

A Visit to Prominent Chicago Residents

We were able to walk from the Gammel Dansk to the Chicago Art Institute and see the Obama portraits.  

We had seen an exhibit by Kehinde Wiley at the Seattle Art Museum.  Check his artwork out on Google images.  He did the portrait of Barack Obama.  We lucked out and got tickets by going early in the morning and waiting in line.  We felt fortunate to see the portraits in the Obamas' hometown.  The portraits will travel to five cities in the US, then return to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC, and eventually be displayed in the White House. 

Downtown Chicago Steps Away

 Downtown was easy walking distance from our slip at GuSable

Finding a picnic spot when in downtown can be a challenge.

This median looked good to us -- at Monroe and Michigan.

Dan, Mary and Tori all copped a squat on this green space and enjoyed a picnic lunch in the middle of the city.

Waterfront Tiki Bar Boat

A Tiki Bar that moved along the Chicago harbor waterfront and in our Marina

Enlarge the photo and read the menu on the red board.
Coconut shrimp is so good!

The back door of the Tiki Bar -- Security and complaints…See Al the Alligator. No complaints, Al.

DuSable Marina in Downtown Chicago

Gammel Dansk finds a slip (E51) at DuSable Marina

We felt fortunate to have scored this slip on a busy weekend with beautiful 70 degree weather.

Night view of Downtown Chicago from the pilot house door of the Gammel Dansk at slip E51 at DuSable Marina.

Gammel Dansk and Crew Reach Chicago

We made it to Chicago!

This is how it looked as we came into Chicago off Lake Michigan.

Training Back to the Boat

Journeying in Comfort from Red Wing to Chicago

Leaving Red Wing on the morning train headed east to Chicago.

Mary and Tori waiting for the train just outside the historic Red Wing train station.  A very nice cool breeze off the river made the short wait very pleasant.

Arriving on Track 1, The Empire Builder to Chicago.  The evening train stops in Red Wing westbound for Seattle.

Mary in our private berth.  This is a very comfortable and relaxing way to travel.  It is more expensive and takes longer than air travel, BUT, we have a personal porter, James, who delivers our food and makes sure we are comfortable.

Our morning omelette and coffee. No peanuts on this trip!!

We have our private bathroom and shower.  Also the compartment is large and Tori can relax. 

Following the Mississippi River south to Winona, Minnesota, then to the east.

Above and below:  Views of Chicago skyscrapers from inside Union Station.  The skyscraper was invented in Chicago.

Boats and Trains

 Training Home for a Week

We found out that the Metra Commuter to Chicago stops in Waukegan on the hour, headed south to Chicago and also north to Kenosha, Wisconsin.  The fare is $8 to Chicago.  The terminal is only two blocks from
Union Station in downtown Chicago. 
We decided to catch the train home to Red Wing for a week. 

Waiting in the Union Station for the AMTRAK train from Chicago to Red Wing.

 It takes about 6.5 hours.  The train stops at the Red Wing station, which is three blocks from our Red Wing Central Park Condo. 

Gammel Dansk Crew Goes to Denmark

 Gammel Dansk crew visits Denmark...
Wisconsin, that is

We thought we would stop and perhaps find a wee dram of Gammel Dansk liquor.  To no avail... no liquor, not much of a town. No stores, just a flour mill and a grain elevator. No passport needed in Denmark, Wisconsin.  We did see the flag of Denmark in the window of one of the buildings.  A Copenhagen snuff sign.  We saw the irony where perhaps the residents did not.  They were too busy looking for a chew.  

Pausing in Petoskey

Gammel Dansk makes it to Petoskey on a great day to travel. 

Gammel Dansk in the Petoskey, Michigan, city marina — this is the calm before the storm.  It was great traveling today 45 miles.  Crew is a little rusty after the COVID layoff.  We’re working on being a team.  

We expect to be here for several days.  Winds predicted to increase and waves 8-9 feet.  Next Saturday might be our weather window to travel.  If not, we explore Petoskey and maybe Charlevoix.