Chicago Chicago

We left Hammond on Friday, August 31st at 8:30AM.  Phil and Carolyn and Scott and KC joined us for the ride to Chicago.  They were goings to take a taxi and Don suggested they travel with us because we were going right down town anyway.  It was nice to have guests on board (short time not a month).  We all have so much we can share.  The men did the men talking and women did theirs.  Weather was great and it was such a nice cruise to the city.  As you started to approach you could see the outline of the city better.  Because of the heat, there was a heavy haze over the city, but it sure did look good....  We got to the DuSable Marina, called in on channel 9 as directed to, no answer.  After 2 or 3 attempts I called and they said well they have poor reception but if we were closer they could pick us up.  We were in their Harbor, how much closer do we have to get!!!!  That is how it all started with DuSable Marina.  Next the slip they were going to put us in could not handle a boat with a 16' beem.  There was one on the end of C dock in front of other Looper's, but NO can not do that, someone else booked there (no other boat was put there the three days we were there)  So they put us on the end of G dock (as far away from the office and showers as you could get).  And NO they would not move us anywhere else....  So Don said that's fine lets just park the boat.

After you were all settled in, we all walked to town.  We when to check in ($2.55ft + $20.00 hydro per/day)we asked the Marina for a map of the area they said NO, we don't carry maps, that you have to walk into town to get them.... 



So we all walk into town.  KC and Scott knew the area so they knew how to get downtown.  We walked to Millenium Park and there we all went separate ways. 

 Don and I took the HOP on Hop off bus tours of the city starting with the West tour of Chinatown, Greektown and Little Italy.  It was a good tour with a great guide.  We got off in Chinatown and walked around and then stopped for lunch at the Emperor's Choice Restaurant.  It was nice and cool inside which is just what we needed.  It was a great lunch, and I love Chinese food.  We caught the bus and continued the tour.  The North tours were not available all weekend because of the football games at Wrigley Field.  So we headed back to the boat and by now it was 5 o'clock cocktail hour.  After all that heat we needed it.  We decided to walk over to the Navy Pier.  It was a bit of a walk from the boat but it was so nice all along the water front.  So Many people, the place was just packed.  Don surprised me and said lets do the Ferris Wheel.  It moved very slow but what a view. It was still so hot and hazy.  We had dinner at Riva Crabhouse.  Great view and a great dinner and great service.  A little pricey but worth it.  After dinner we just walked around.  There are so many large cruise boats that do dinner cruises from the Pier.  We can not believe how busy the harbour by the Pier was.  We waked back to the boat and just went to bed......

 

 

  

It is now Saturday September 01.  Where has the time gone.   It was over cast and a bit of drizzle so we had a leisurely morning.  We decided to do the Signature Tour of the city with 14 different areas to get off.  It was another warm day outside.  The city is beautiful and doing the tour allowed us to see the best in a short period of time.  We got off the Trolley at stop 9 at the Magnificent Mile.  So much to see.  We found the Apple store to have them look at my IPad.     What a store, and packed with people.  I was not getting the MIFI signal to pick up on the IPad, so they were able to fix it in all of about 2 minutes.  We kept walking the mile and looking in some of the stores but left them none of our money.  Picked the Trolley at stop 10 the Water Tower and continued on the tour.  A little sprinkle or rain but did not dampen the day.                                                                         

 

 

Got off back at Millennium Park and went to a store called Mariano's.  This place has everything you would want and it is so close to the Marina.  Picked up some beer and wine and food and I picked up some flowers for the boat.  Came back to the boat for a quick 5 o'clock cocktail hour.  Don ordered a taxi to take us to the Chicago Looper's get together at Woody and Ellen home.  We arrived around 6:30PM and there were a number of Looper's there already.  Woody and Ellen have a beautiful home on the 15th floor over looking the lake and Wrigley Stadium.  It was a great nite talking to everyone about their experiences and trip and what we all had to look forward to down the river.  The food was great and only exceeded by the hospitality of our hosts.

 

 

Woody and Ellen
Welcome to Chicago Hosts

When we got back to the boat we poured a glass of wine and sat outside at the bow of the boat.  The weather had cleared and the Navy Pier put on an amazing firework display at 10:15 to 10:30PM and we had the best seats in the house.  Decided to call it a nite around 12:00.  At about 3:15AM I got up to go to the washroom and was not back to sleep yet when I head noises outside our boat.  I woke Don but he was kind of awake anyway.  I said "I think that someone is on the boat, and he said no but then heard another noise and said stay below".  I opened the bathroom shower porthole and saw two guys climbing on the back of our boat.  I yelled out to them "what are you guy's doing get off our boat"  They jumped down and ran all the way back up the dock.  Don saw the security guard and told him and he also had been chasing them.  Called police but the guard said that he would talk to them for us.  When back to boat and left living room lites on and went to bed.  Not a great ending to an otherwise perfect day.

  

 

Got up and it was now Sunday 2nd of Sept.  Wanted to leave but it was raining and Don decided to stay instead of trying to do the locks in the rain.  Had a leisurely morning.   Don went to talk to the Marina manager Roberto, and he was as unsumpathatic as they get.  did not know about the insodent, did not ask if we were okay or was there anything taken or was there any damage to theboat, NOTHING....  Then asked us for our credit card for tonites dockage fee....  Wait till he here from me!!!!

 

We left for town around 1:00PM after the weather seem to clear a bit.  I wanted to go to the Art Institute of Chicago (NOT, Don does not do museum's or art institutes) We decided to go to the Lincoln Park Zoo. The North Trolley Tours still were not running because of the football games so we took the 151 bus line right to the Zoo. Great transit systems they have. The Zoo was free and it was just the right size. spent about three hours there then caught the bus back to Millennium Park.  Went back to Mariano's and picked up a few more things and then back to the boat.  It was just in time for  6 o'clock cocktail hour.  Relaxed and enjoyed a cold beer and cooled off.  Later we walked back to Navy Pier and pick up Don a shirt and custom hat.  Recommended to go to Billy Goat Tavern for their famous burgers (not so famous and not so good.)  Walked around for a while and then headed back to the boat. Time to call it a day what with no sleep and lots of walking.