In order to be able to go down the Chicago waterway, your boat has to be able to fit under this 17'6" fixed bridge. We cleared it easily! Our height is 14'7" with our anchor light and antenna down.
This waterway dam was before the entrance when the Calumet joined the Illinois river. Loopers that can't fit under the lowest fixed bridge take the Calumet on the Great Loop.
Entering the Inland waterways, we had new locks requiring rafting up. We had our first commercial lock on our way to Jolliet. We ended up waiting 30 minutes for the lock to be ready for us. There was no place to tie up so we had to drive the boat in circles. The three boats in front of us waited an hour before we arrived.
When we arrived in our third lock we all rafted up.
Our buddy boat, Finito, shared these pictures with us.
We arrived early enough in Jolliet to have dinner and walk around the town. This is the picture of our boat from the wall. We had three fast moving barges past next to us in the middle of the night. They had to get the four bridges raised that were right next to us.
Ted noted that this plaque recorded the number of WWII submarines that passed through Joliet on the way out through the Mississippi.
Stay: 1 night
Pros: Free, Easy to dock, Electricity
Cons: No restrooms, water
Rating: 4 star
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