Chicago!

We are having a great time in Chicago, a truly remarkable city.  Our marina is downtown and within walking distance of many museums, restaurants, shops and parks.  After arriving here I had to have some dental work, and was fortunate to find a very good dentist.  Since then we have done the tourist thing, visiting museums, parks and socializing with other Loopers here.   We have dined at a steakhouse, dim sum Chinese and pizza restaurants.  All good.  Way too many restaurants!  One museum is about the history of the Chicago River, which was one of the most polluted rivers in the world.  In the late 1800s engineers reversed the flow of the river away from Lake Michigan and toward St Louis via a ship canal (the one we will take) and locks.  St Louis took legal action and ultimately lost in the US Supreme Court.  After the formation of the EPA real strides were made to clean it up, and now it is a major tourist attraction.  

Chicago has made the most of its waterfront, with fabulous walking/bike trails, marinas, tour boats, etc.  Stanwood and Janet join us today, and we will head south on Tuesday.  We cannot fit under the bridges on the Chicago River, so will take the Calumet River via a ship canal to the Illinois River. 

Both Bill and Walter chimed in on the bird picture, with different results.  Bill says it is a warbler, Walter a vireo. 

We are off to a play tonight with Stanwood and Janet.  Many of you have commented on the blog via text to me.  The best comment so far goes to Dixon Lewis regarding the small aids to navigation in Canada.  He says they were made with Stanwood in mind, so when he hits them he won't damage his boat as much.  I have now told that to Stanwood, who has responded, but it is not fit for a family blog......

My starboard engine was slightly out of alignment and we had it fixed here.  All the pounding poor Moondance has taken this year took its toll.   

Navy Pier.  A touristy part of the waterfront.  

Chicago River.

Some of the bridges do not open, and the 17' height is not enough for us to go under.  

The city banned this type of signage after this guy polluted the waterway.  

The planetarium.  

These pics are from Millennium Park, which has some interesting art.  

Our reflection from The Bean.

Bean.

Yes, I do walk on water....