The Great Loop

This web site is an attempt to provide a quick and easy way for our family and freinds to keep up with us on "The Loop"

The Great Loop is a 6000 mile jouney down the Tennessee River and the Tombigbee Waterway to Mobile, Alabama. From there around the coast of Florida via Key West with a side trip to the Bahamas. Back to the coast of Florida we head up the east coast to the Chesapeake Bay. From the Chesapeake we continue up the east coast through New York Harbour, up the Hudon River, and across the Erie Canal. Through a series of canals we go across Lake Ontario into Canada. We will spend a month in Canada. Back to the US, we will cross Lake Michigan to Chicago. Following the Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers back to Tennesse.


LOOP CLOSED: 8/12/09: 310 days, 6170 miles, 107 locks, 3 countries, 16 states, 85 different marinas, 10,050 gallons of diesel fuel, thousands of photos, countless new friends, and priceless memories...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Illinois River

We left Chicago Monday 7/27 to head down the Illinois River. Because of our height (19'6") we were not able to take the boat thur downtown Chicago but had to use the Calumet River/Canal. This is a very industrial and commercial waterway.





This is the "famous" 19.1' bridge. This is a fixed RR bridge (the lowest clearance on The Great Loop). We are 19.5'!! Before we left home we had our satellite wing hinged so we could get down to 18'. As it turned out, the water level at the next lock was lower than normal pool and we cleared by 18".
After missing a lock opening by 10 minutes we had to wait 90 minutes for commercial traffic to clear. This also delayed us making a restricted bridge opening in Joilet giving us another 60 minute wait. This, plus another 30 minute wait, meant we stopped for the night at Harborside Marine. A long day from 8:30 to 7:30 to cover 60 miles and 3 locks plus several draw bridges.

Back to the big commercial locks like the Tennessee River except bigger and lots more commercial barge traffic.
At Harborside Marina they had these "floating condos."

Up early Tuesday morning to go only 1 lock and 20 miles to Spring Brook Marina. They are a large Carver dealer where we will have some service done. Lynn leaves to go back to Knoxville for a "grandchild fix."
Some friend of friends are going to join me to bring the boat down the Illinois, Mississsippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers to Pickwick, TN. Pictured are Don, Michele, Chris, and Dick. As I told Lynn it takes 4 people to replace her! 1 or 2 of them will go with me then switch with the others along the way (about 800 miles).
Lynn will rejoin me at Pickwick to bring the boat back to Knoxville. We plan to be in Knoxville by Labor Day for the first UT game. GO VOLS!
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1 comment:

Charlie Shell said...

I just checked your blog for the 1st time. Wow, it looks like you guys are really having a trip of a lifetime. Give me a yell when you get back and well have a beer. Enjoy the rest of your trip.

July 30, 2009 at 8:28 AM

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