Took my friend's boat from winter storage west down the Cal Sag and then northeast along the Ship/Sanitary canal to the South Branch of the Chicago River, through downtown and out to Lake Michigan via the Chicago locks. Then north past Navy Pier to Belmont Harbour.

The fog closed in right as we got to the lake. Navy Pier was lit up to the north; you could only see the big ferris wheel when it flashed lit. We needed to go around the pier and then out of the breakwater gap to head north to Belmont Harbor. We saw one large boat they we though might have electronics heading north and fell in behind it. It actually took us just before the breakwater gap before turning back. It was about 9:30pm and we could only see about 50 - 100 yards. We still could not see the breakwater gap, but idled forward till we made out the breakwall shadow and went parallel. Finally we glimpsed the red and then the green lights.

At this point we had a rather long 3-way discussion about proceeding or not, at one point it was 2 or 1 to turn back. Oh, it was a bit windy as well outside the breakwall, but not terrible. We did have a compass, but no other electronics save my cell phone w/ Google maps (but no GPS function). We could see a bit of a glow from the lights on Lake Shore Drive, and I mean just a bit. We planned to stay close to shore so not too worried about any really big vessels. Our main worry was going out, losing all visibility and not being able to find the breakwall gap again. We knew we could use the compass and end up on shore, but the shore is basically a breakwall of steel, concrete or stone blocks all along except for a few beach areas...and those had small unlit jetties. The other x factor was the large North Ave Beach pier/jetty (not lit save for a small light on the end) that was in our path of travel.

We decided to go for it at idle speed and I used my Cell phone Google Maps to see what to expect on the shoreline contour-wise, the compass and the dim glow of lights from Lake Shore Drive and later the bike path. North Ave beach and Fullerton Theatre by the Lake point were our landmarks as we reached them. It was extemely poor visibilty for quite some time, we didn't see the North Ave jetty until literally less than 100 yards, but were just creeping anyway. We also had the depthfinder too. We stayed about 50 - 100 yards off shore or out from the beach jetties the rest of the way. We passed the entrance lights of Diversey Harbour and then on to Belmont. Visibility opened up just a bit as we reached Belmost to maybe 200 yards. Once inside the entrance visibility really opened up. The fog was really hugging the lakeshore.

Anyway, we made it in fine, but it was stressful for quite a while. We took it extremely slow so any mistakes would be slow ones (and near shore)! No one mentioned it but I noticed when we got to the harbor everyone still had their life jackets on from going thru the locks (where it was required).

I snapped a bunch of pics w/ my camera phone so quite a few are of questionable quality. The river cruise was nice. There was some debris and floating branches early on. It took about 45 mins from the Obrian Locks (which we did NOT go through) the turn NE onto the Sanitary Canal. We were already getting nervous about losing sunlight on the river and hitting some debris, having no idea what we would encounter later. I put some captions on the pics and gotta run so will stop here. We took the long way loop instead of thru the Obrian Locks b/c of signal issues w/ lock tender (button evidently broken as he said he never heard us) and barge delays at the locks...decided just to go the long way. Wasted an hour before ever leaving. Left lock area around 7pm.

Starting point: 13600 S Hoxie Ave, Chicago, IL 60633-1810

Marina on Cal Sag

Zoom out and follow west and then NE to see route.

Belmont Harbor: Belmont Harbor


Picture Album: http://photobucket.com/ChicagoLoopCruise

Now I'm confused.

What the heck are you doing back in the Chi-town area? I thought you moved?!?!?!?!

Thanks for the tour.

Yep I did move. I've just been travelling back to Chicago some for work; but that ended w/ my flight home Thursday night. Was nice visiting again for a while, seeing people and places again, and boating there again, but travelling for work is not for me (or my family as I was typically gone all work week); back to working from home for me.

Nice shots. Must be fun cruising through downtown and seeing all the high rise buildings from the water.

Glad you guys made it OK. Fog can be no fun!

Cruising downtown looks fun.

Athiker:

Nice post. The fogged lights from the bike path were real spooky. The Obrian lock? I assume this would be if you went under the Skyway and hit the lake around 95th? I have never taken that trip. I assume it's very industrial. Besides this Obrian lock is there anything else I should know about? Thanks.

After just looking it up it looks like I spelled it wrong...the O'brien locks. Only things on the river are moving and tied up barges and the occasional floating branch or other debris...less so if you go east b/c less trees. Some bridges are a little on the low side...not sure exact clearances though. Going east and out under the Chicago Skyway at what I think is called Calumet Harbor is a very industrial and cool trip. We often see barges being loaded. The area has a distinct smell, not really a stink, but a dusty metallic kind of smell you can almost taste. I wish I had brought a real camera for past trips out that way and a real one for this last trip.

Once you leave the river you will be behind a break wall w/ a gap to the lake in the NE section. Since the breakwall is blocking potential wind and waves from a North or NE wind, the lake can be quite different outside the breakwall.

The O'brien locks have a red button on the riverbank wall you push twice to alert the tender to open them. It has always worked in the past, but didn't w/ two attempts this last time. We passed at least 2 launch ramps on our trip the long way around but I don't know their names.

Only other thing I can think of is coming in Westbound from the lake one year the two guys that own the boat I was on took a wrong turn at a "Y" just above 130th street and grounded the boat. It was the one guy's first year and he was at the helm. The bottom was just soft muck and they eventually were able to get out. They had to get out and pull w/ lines like mules in the muck!

If you were to head inland from the marina in the map I posted and did the loop, the "turn" NE is marked by 2 small man-made waterfalls on the right and an open point w/ a statue...you make a hard right there. I always enjoy cruising through the city from the water at night.

To proceed or turn back, that is the question (sorry Hamlet ).

Sounds like you guys had a good (if white knuckle) ride.

Semper Fi 75

Nice pics, next time you're in Chicago and at Belmont Harbor come over to D pier and say hello

Will do...doesn't look like I'll get back up there this summer though. Was a good time to be boating in/around Chicago again.