FINALLY. Away from the big waves, wind and cold rain.

 Today we left Hammond IN and ended in Joliet IL.  45 miles and a world of difference.  Two locks and a ton of bridges.   Sunshine!  


For those that have never done a lock on a private craft before...  here are some shots.  17 boats pulled into the lock.  Rafted four or five wide.  


The lockmaster then starts to let in (or in this case let out) - water.    The boats all descend together.   The wall usually has a floating 'bollard' which is basically an expensive 55gallon drum with a handle that floats and sits in a channel so you can hold on if you are at the wall (not tie, in case it gets stuck because.... Well that would be bad). 


When the lock reached the lower level they slowly open the doors.   The levels equalize. 


And lots of flotsam (junk in the water) either flows in or out.   


Once it clears, you one by one release your lines and exit the lock.   


And eventually find a nice place like Joliet to tie up.   This is a free wall in a park across the bridge from a casino (Harrah's).  


And then if you have a nifty app called Nebo it emails you a nice image of where you started to where it ended.  


And after that you hang out with new traveling friends on the dock.     Of course Katie started that part immediately after tying up.   Me, I'm glad to not be captain for another few hours. 

And one day closer to more electric cords, a shower sump check valve, a y adapter, some locking carabiners and about 500 dollars worth of other stuff we've decided we needed (or broke) since we left.    There is more we need to order (isenglass windows don't like to be rolled up when the temp is in the 40s) and our fresh water fill port on the back of the boat has decided it would rather let water out than in.... 

As my new friend Mike says .. everything is broken on our boat, we just don't know it yet...

I shall likely sleep well tonight.  No 12ft waves crashing over the wall or 30mph winds pushing and twisting at everything.  
 



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