Chicago and the Carp Barrier
9-26-2009
One year ago today we left Dubuque, Iowa on this great adventure! We’ve been over 6,000 miles & will cross our wake where the Illinois River meets the Mississippi – in a week or two!!!! What a grand time we’re having!!!!
10-03-2009
On the 25th we parked QAR at Marine Services Marina on the Calumet River & were met by our cousins Judi & Mark for several days with them at their great home in the Hyde Park area of Chicago. Our son & daughter-in-law, Bradley & Stacy, came from Des Moines for the weekend, so we had a wonderful reunion. We always eat so good at Judi & Mark’s!!! We had — Mark’s famous pot roast, perfectly grilled steaks, a fabulous lobster dinner – plus Italian at Piccolo Mondo & Hank’s most favorite pizza at Pizano’s downtown.(Oprah says it is the best thin pizza in the USA ) And we all had the famous Chicago Hot Dogs at Maxwell Street. After 6 days we waddled back to the boat & headed south. Traveling with us for a week or so is Mark — So for me it’s like a vacation cause he does all the things I usually do on the boat like dock lines, fenders, locking thru, navigation, driving QAR, etc. I’m most thankful!!!!
Right before the carp barrier there is a large sign informing you — Danger – Electric Charge in Water – Do Not Stop, Anchor or Fish – No Mooring or Passing – Type 1 Life Jacket Must Be Worn. The Coast Guard waits to “check you out”. You must call a phone number where someone reads you all their disclosures & asks if you’re aware of the danger (we answer “yes”). Then you’re allowed to pass thru about 400 yards of the electric barrier. Afterwards, the Coast Guard boat that’s stationed at the other end of the barrier clears you by asking if you’re all okay. Boy, were we relieved to pass thru that “carp barrier”, especially after all the previous publicity. And I was wondering if it was my imagination that my feet were “tingling”. The AGLCA and the Waterway Guide people were instrumental in working with the Corps of Engineers & the Coast Guard to smooth a path for those of us who are headed down the river system and we’re most grateful for their efforts. We also appreciate that we didn’t have to pay $600 for a tow boat to guide us thru like some of the earlier loopers ahead of us! We continued on down the Illinois River.
We passed thru 2 locks that day & spent the night tied up at the city docks at Joliet. We have about 300 miles to go on the Illinois River til we meet the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis where we will cross our wake and complete our loop!
