Autumn Migration in Chicago

Dalliance

Dalliance

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Oct 6, 2007
1,172
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
We did our annual autumn sailboat migration through the lock and down the Chicago River to winter storage on Wednesday. A lot of tie up and wait for the next bridge to open, 24 in all for us. A few more bridges for others storing further down the river. It was a beautiful day to be on the river.
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Tied up at Marina Towers

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Waiting for the Lake Street bridge

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Running down the South Branch

Dalliance is now in her cradle for the winter. I'll finish the last of the winterizing tomorrow.
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I never had a chance to participate in this unique Chicago-style ritual. I'd bet it's a bittersweet finish to the season.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,926
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
@Dalliance
Thanks for posting the pics. I did my high school years in Oswego (40 miles SW of those pics) and growing up I was the "Jib-boy" for a friend of my mothers who raced Flying Scots in a club on the NW shore. We did not win very many (any) races but we had a lot of fun. I have taken the City Architectural Boat Tour along those same waters as in your pics ... truly a stunning voyage. Again! Thanks for the pics.
 
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Dalliance

Dalliance

.
Oct 6, 2007
1,172
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
The sailboat migration through the city is truly unique. Yes, a little bittersweet in the fall, but joyous in the spring, and always awe inspiring. Those Architectural Boat Tours are pretty good, and I recommend them to anyone visiting the city.
 
Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
I never did any of those tours when I lived in Chicago. Now that we come back for visits, we do all of that stuff. The Architectural tour is really good. There is a good tour that does a sample of the architectural tour, and it also goes thru the lock into the harbor. For all those who are unfamiliar, the tours start on the river at the base of the Wrigley building (apropos of the current excitement in Chicago).
The Shedd Aquarium is a can't miss place to visit. I recommend taking the water taxi across the harbor to Navy Pier from Shedd Aquarium. I also highly recommend taking the themed tours on Tall Ship Windy. We went on a chilly, very windy day in early fall (but the sun was warm), so we could roam around the ship pretty easily, since it wasn't filled to capacity, I think. Granted, this is all very touristy, but it is just pure fun. I don't really care how touristy it is, there was just an incredibly good vibe every time we visited Navy Pier. The nice thing about Navy Pier is that there is no entrance fee. You can go and soak up the scenery and atmosphere and you only need to spend as much as you want to spend for all the goods and services they provide.
We always stay at the Wyndham Grand Riverfront hotel because it is right in the center of all that we want to do and it has incredible views of the riverfront. It is directly across the river from the Wrigley Building and Trump Tower.
 
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Dalliance

Dalliance

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Oct 6, 2007
1,172
Hunter H30 1982 Chicago IL
rgranger said:
Don't forget the field museum and aquarium.... :plus:
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.....or the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science & Industry, the Art Institute, the Museum of Contemporary Art......and a host of others, plus the Observation Deck of the John Hancock building and "The Ledge" at Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), Millenium Park, the Lincoln Park Zoo (largest free zoo in the country)....Wrigley Field.....the architecture.....the restaurants.....the neighborhoods.....sailing on Lake Michigan.....the list goes on....

Funny thing about the weather in Chicago; if you're are vacationing here, as in any other world class city, there is really no such thing as "bad" weather. There is good sight seeing weather and there is good museum weather. Use the two accordingly and it's all good.

Yes, I'm a shameless booster of Chicago. It's not without it's issues, but I love this city by the lake.
 
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Scott T-Bird

Scott T-Bird

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Oct 26, 2008
6,432
Catalina 320 Barnegat, NJ
rgranger said:
Don't forget the field museum and aquarium.... :plus:
Click to expand
Dalliance said:
Yes, I'm a shameless booster of Chicago. It's not without it's issues, but I love this city by the lake.
Click to expand
I agree. It was an awesome place to be when I was young. We went everywhere. We had countless trips to the museums (grandparents enforced those trips), Chances R in Old Town, German restaurants on the north side with one side of the family, Norwegian places with the other side, all of the neighborhoods seem to have such unique character. When I got older, the Evanston Express or the Skokie Swift opened up a new world of adventure. From Linden St. to Howard St. and a transfer onto the L, we made it to Old Town when it was filled with bizarre places and it was a bit decadent, too, and Greek Town for souvlaki, and high school kids could yell "Opa!" and drink ouzo. We saw the Bulls play and Grand Funk Railroad in the Amphitheatre at the stockyards, and the Bears in Wrigley Field. I even have a memory of Navy Pier when it was ancient and worn down. I was in junior high and my school team went there for a city-wide wrestling tournament. I was pinned within 10 seconds of my first match - no exaggeration!
Actually, the longer I've been away, the more I miss it. That's the charm of getting old, I guess.
 
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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,926
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
... and for a $2 cover charge you can usually get live Jazz music any night of the week.....
 
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