Monday, October 19:
We got up and got the boat ready for travel. Wes went up and dropped off the keys, then we dropped our lines and started making our way to Waukegan. It was a little lumpy, but not horrible. It got better as the day went on. I had another long day of calls for work, but the trip was uneventful. We arrived in Waukegan around 1645 and got secured. Wes visited with some other loopers that have been stuck here for three weeks getting some prop and shaft work done. Then Mike and Sharon O'Malley came by around 1830 and picked us up and took us to Olivia's Italian Restaurant in Gurnee for dinner. It was delicious!! It was nice to catch up with Mike and Sharon! We got back to the boat, relaxed on our tablets some, then called it a night.
Tuesday, October 20:
We got up and both did our respective bible studies. Then Wes went up and paid for our night here and dropped of our key cards. Then we dropped our lines around 0830 and started making our way to Hammond. It was a beautifully calm and sunny day on the lake! We arrived around 1445 and got secured. Wes went up and checked us in, then he put the mast down as I continued working. Once I was done working, we had leftovers for dinner, watched some TV then called it a night.
Wednesday, October 21:
We got up and got the boat ready for travel. We lowered the antennas then Wes returned the key card and we were off! We dropped our lines around 0740 and headed to the Calumet River. We made it through the first lock around 1000 and arrived a Lockport at 1500, which was perfect timing as I just finished a work call as we arrived at the lock. We arrived at the Joliet wall around 1600 and got secured. We were the only boat there. I still had more work to do, but when I finished up around 1730, we got the scooters down and went exploring to find some pizza for dinner. The closest place we found was Niko's but even though they were supposed to be open they were closed. So we went to the other side of the river and went to Linda's, but they are a take-out only place. Our third try was The Big Grill and Chill. They were open and had indoor seating! The pizza was delicious and the people there were great! We chatted with them and told them about the loop and Toscana. It was dark by the time we left after dinner, but it was an easy scooter ride back to the boat. We stored the scooters and watched some TV before heading to bed.
Thursday, October 22:
We got up and I started working while Wes put up the mast. Once he was done with that, he relaxed a bit, made us some breakfast (or more of a brunch), then did computer work. We had a couple other boats join us on the wall. The one couple joined us for a beverage on our aft deck, then we had dinner, watched some TV and called it a night.
Friday, October 23:
We got up and I started working. Wes did computer work. When I was done working, we took the scooters and went exploring. We checked out the old iron works historical forest preserve and the old prison. On our way back, we went through downtown and had a beverage at Richardson's and another beverage at Chicago Street Pub. Then we went back to the boat and there were three other boats on the wall. Wes went down and visited, then I went down and joined them. Then back to the boat for dinner and the first game of the world series. The Brewers won!! After the game we went to bed.
Saturday, October 24:
We got up and got the boat ready for travel. We dropped our lines around 0715 and started heading south. We made it to the first lock around 0745 and waited for Always Somewhere as they dropped their lines shortly after us. They got caught by the railroad bridge, so they got hung up. They arrived and we locked through. It was a beautiful day on the river. Wes saw there was a tow heading into the lock, so he backed the engines down and we ran on one engine for awhile. When we arrived, the tow was still locking through, so we dropped the hook and waited. The other two boats (Nightingale and Vita Dulcis) from the wall met up with us while we waited. There was also a boat that we passed that ran aground and BoatUS was there getting them unstuck as we passed. They also met up with us and locked through with us. We finally got though the second lock around 1530. We arrived at the last lock as it was getting as the sun was setting. They were nice enough to let us lock through with a tug. Their barges had already locked through so it was just the tug. We locked through and the tug was kind enough to let us go past first. We all got out of the lock and made it to Heritage Harbor around 1830. It was already dark at that point, but we all made it in safely. We got secured then headed up to the restaurant. We sat at the bar and Bryce and his wife joined us. We enjoyed some beverages and dinner while we watched game two of the world series and visited. It was another close game but the Brewers won again! We closed the place down, then went back to the boat and went to bed.
Sunday, October 25:
Neither of us was moving too quickly that morning. We got up and I got ready and packed while Wes went up and checked us in and paid our bill. My parents arrived around 1130. We visited for a bit, then went to lunch. We took Wes back to the boat then my parents and I went back to their place. We stopped at my nephews to pick up a turkey, then at my sister's to put the turkey in their freezer and pick up my car. My daughter Tori came over after we got to my parent's house and we visited a bit. I relaxed a bit by watching TV with my folks, then called it a night.
