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CHICAGO  TALL SHIPS

Took another trip to Chicago this time with my friend John and my other friend John.  (Hey, at least it was easy to remember names!)  We went to see the Tall Ships Tour stop at Chicago and had a blast!  It was pretty amazing to see these enormous ships and realize that they sailed there by the power of the wind!  Even though I prefer an internal combustion engine, I really enjoyed seeing them sail in.  (Slowly... Oh, So Slowly...)

The Coast Guard and Chicago Police closed the locks until 3pm to allow the ships to move into the Chicago River unobstructed.  They also made the entire harbor around Navy Pier a "No Wake" zone temporarily for the four days the ships were visiting.  We found that out thanks to a friendly Coast Guard Cutter that stopped us and let us know thru a bullhorn!  (They really should put up some signs.)  Since we had moored on the river overnight, we were trapped there until we could go thru the locks late that afternoon.  It gave us a great opportunity to explore the river and take in the sights.

 

Chicago 2 013.jpg (216360 bytes) Vertical Drawbridge Chicago 2 014.jpg (261513 bytes) Operators "House" Chicago 2 015.jpg (250645 bytes) Sears Tower in the Distance
Chicago 2 019.jpg (225737 bytes) Counter Balanced Drawbridge Chicago 2 020.jpg (314515 bytes) Huge Weights! Chicago 2 022.jpg (230326 bytes) Raised Fully
Chicago 2 018.jpg (250219 bytes) Pagoda along the River.  Chicago 2 021.jpg (183966 bytes) Skyline Dominance! Chicago 2 025.jpg (223434 bytes) Condos with a Marina!
Chicago 2 028.jpg (303983 bytes) Near Adams Street Chicago 2 029.jpg (263425 bytes) Adams Street Bridge Chicago 2 030.jpg (329341 bytes) Construction Barge
Chicago 2 017.jpg (254141 bytes) John Wion on the Back of the Baja Chicago 2 023.jpg (296451 bytes) John Miller on the Back of the Baja Chicago 2 024.jpg (311733 bytes) "Air Turntable" by DJ John!
Chicago 2 031.jpg (303920 bytes) Riverside Plaza Chicago 2 034.jpg (365072 bytes) The Boston Whaler "Half Boat" Chicago 2 035.jpg (351742 bytes) Sorriso, my favorite restaurant!  (They have a 16oz Fillet!)
Chicago 2 050.jpg (302999 bytes) Cool looking Fountain Chicago 2 052.jpg (282452 bytes) New Construction Chicago 2 055.jpg (220574 bytes) Private Yacht
Chicago 2 033.jpg (336844 bytes) World's Biggest Chair Chicago 2 032.jpg (303701 bytes) Who the hell sits in that?! Chicago 2 036.jpg (304933 bytes) Chicago's Finest
Chicago 2 039.jpg (265582 bytes) Coast Guard is letting us thru. Chicago 2 040.jpg (329527 bytes) The Tarangini Chicago 2 041.jpg (360837 bytes) Gorgeous! 
Chicago 2 042.jpg (310811 bytes) They just lowered their Tender off deck. Chicago 2 043.jpg (387211 bytes) You can see the pulleys & tag lines. Chicago 2 044.jpg (289620 bytes) That is one LONG ship!
Chicago 2 046.jpg (321676 bytes) Check out the sailors with the bird eye's view. Chicago 2 045.jpg (168760 bytes) You couldn't get me up there! Chicago 2 047.jpg (344501 bytes) This lady was taking a cell phone break on the bow.
Chicago 2 048.jpg (335482 bytes) Which... Nina, Pinta, Santa Maria? Chicago 2 049.jpg (309084 bytes) Sailing in comfort. (notice the A/C discharge) Chicago 2 051.jpg (238806 bytes) Canadian
Chicago 2 054.jpg (186835 bytes) This ship has an unusual "keel"  on the side. Chicago 2 056.jpg (176616 bytes) Tug boat  & Barge Chicago 2 059.jpg (243606 bytes) Close up of Tug
Chicago 2 058.jpg (159651 bytes) Chicago River Locks Chicago 2 060.jpg (175855 bytes) Coming Thru! Chicago 2 061.jpg (190056 bytes) No wonder why they closed the Locks!
Chicago 2 062.jpg (199808 bytes) I was wondering how they got thru! Chicago 2 063.jpg (207473 bytes) Probably the best boat pilot around, a tugboat captain! Chicago 2 064.jpg (210662 bytes) The Michigan Street Bridge Raising
Sears Tower2.jpg (175440 bytes) Great Tower Shot Sears Tower.jpg (191503 bytes) I think I'll make this one a postcard!