Great Loop Day 038 Oct 5, 2016, Joliet, Illinois Layover Day 1
Joliet, Illinois Layover Day 1
“A river seems like a magic thing. Magic, moving, living part of the earth itself.” – Laura Gilpin
<Day 37 Part 2 Previous Post | First Post | Next Post Day 39 >
Day 38. Wednesday, Oct 5, 2016. Joliet, Illinois Layover. Spending another night on the free dock at Joliet, Illinois. Several other loopers are tied up here tonight. Brandon from Muskegon on his 30-foot sailboat sailing solo is here. He had some of his friends drive down and are going shopping for a new bilge pump. Had issues with his old one. Today was an easy day. Slept in as usual. Fed Mickey his can of cat food. Checked my blood glucose level, which looked good, gulped down my meds, and had the usual breakfast, instant oatmeal cereal, and coffee.
A good view of the wall at Joliet.
Greetings from Joliet!
Took a walk to Harrah's Casino on the other side of the river to use their meticulously clean restrooms. If they only had showers. Found free coffee available. Played the Jacks or Better video poker game, and got two full houses, but no four-of-a-kind. The 25-cent reel slots were very stingy. Only got a total of an hour of playtime for 20 dollars. That's my limit. Try again tomorrow morning.
Not a big payout on this game but keeps me playing.
Back in the boat, I cleaned the kitty litter box. That is a two to four-times-a-day chore. I am trying to use up his lightweight kitty litter purchased a while back. It looks like they use perlite, that styrofoam stuff you find in garden soil to keep it moist. This stuff floats when tossed in the water. Back at Hammond Marina, it would stick to the pilings and boat hulls at the waterline. Looks like a new invasive organism invaded the lakes. Here it floats away down the river with the current. Much less noticeable, but still will walk the used litter to a trash receptacle in the park. Decided never to buy this lightweight kitty litter anymore.
I opened up the bimini after checking the mobile radar app for rain, a line of showers was heading this way from the west although the sky was generally clear but for a few clouds.
Needed a small bag of ice, on my list for later. Let Mickey out, he now jumps off the boat up to the crumbling concrete wall. Still leashed. He sits up there enjoying the sun and looking for bugs to play with. I texted Ed, and he's updated the travel map. Spent some time earlier walking the neighborhood. Snapped some shots of wall murals and was going to the other side of the river. Just when I stepped on the Jefferson Bridge the siren sounded and the bell started ringing. I see a small tug by itself coming down the river and thought for just a moment I can run across this bridge before the bridge went up then changed my mind and stayed back. Timing is everything and wasn't sure I'd make it. Small tug, Bridge wasn't going to stay up long. Tug passes and looking downriver up comes several large barges. This bridge is staying open longer. This is one busy river for now. Bridge down, run over to Harrah's to use the restroom, and get another soft drink. Walking back over the same bridge my camera gets an evening shot of the mooring wall.
These murals do brighten up the town.
Many of the themes reflect the bygone days.
The bridge that leads to Harrah’s Casino.
Little tug but does big jobs on the river.
Brandon’s sailboat.
Another sailor heading south for the winter.
An ingenious way to store your dinghy.
Evening descends on the town.
Time to get ice. Using Google I ask for the nearest grocery store on my phone and there's one a few blocks down. Getting dark now better hurry. The residential street I need to get down is dark and seedy looking. The lack of street lights and warm nights can bring out some bad people. I'm cautious as I proceed. I hear a few people talking on their front porches as I make my way down. On the corner is a small convenience-type store. They have ice. Pack it quickly in my backpack and I hurry back.
It's 11:15 pm now and I see Mickey up on the wall staring at another cat, a Domestic Shorthair just like Mickey! I swear it looked like Mickey looking at a mirror image of himself! As I get up to take a picture, the other cat scurries away. Darn.
I checked the weather and it calls for rain early this morning. Better set up a rain panel over the companionway. Tomorrow heading to a marina 10 miles away and have another lock to go thru. Checking with the local boaters here they advise calling the lock to see if there are any barges coming thru. I hear this lock doesn't have any place to tie up if it's busy with barges.
Looking over my right shoulder the river is like a giant mirror reflecting the casino's parking garage lights. Got the picture. Well got to get Mickey back in the cabin and call it a night. Fair winds and gentle seas.
The night brings a different view to enjoy.
Comments from 2016:
Bob Meredith, I really envy you, Henry. An amazing adventure, and your generosity in sharing it was. I am in my last year of work and am scrambling to get my ducks in a row before retirement. I really enjoy following your journey. It is a great diversion, and I imagine myself in your shoes.
Henry Krzemien RN Well Bob your shoes would be quite soaked now. At least the temp is still mild. The Mid-60s. Rain slowing down see some breaks in the clouds. Only for a short time. The radar shows more rain on the way.