Day 134-135. 2nd year. October 4-5 On to Calumet River and Marine Services. Miles 12. Total miles 4092
We left Hammond waving good-bye to slip mates and friends who are in the flotilla with us. Heading out past the breakwall and traveling west to the entrance of the Calumet River, we said goodbye to Lake Michigan.
The Calumet River goes south past depots where barges are unloaded to train cars. This heavily industrial area of warehouses and piles of rock, sand, dirt and scrap metal is also filled with barges, cranes, earth movers and conveyer belts.
We past bridge after bridge after bridge on our 9 mile journey on the river, some railroad, some vehicle bridges. In fact we went under 11 bridges in 30 minutes.
Two miles further we pulled into Marines Services and took a slip for the next two nights.
Once we got connected to electric and water, then had lunch, Bill tackled changing the oil on the two engines and generator. It’s a messy job, but someone has to do it! We are doing the job here as they have a disposal area for used oil. Not always easy to get used oil disposed of.
Met several other Loopers here who are in the flotilla ahead of us. They will tackle the the infamous three locks that delayed our trip down the Illinois River tomorrow and leave space here at the marina for our flotilla group so we can tackle the locks on Friday.
This marina is interesting, mostly a working boat yard set in between the railroad tracks and an old landfill/dump. A real exotic place!!
Bill celebrated completing the oil change by using the marina loaner Jeep and went to dinner at Taco Bell.
Day 135 Lay day in Marine Services
Woke to a rainy day which continued off and on throughout the day. Bill changed the oil filters and added clean oil to the engine and generator and did some engine room clean up. Here is Bill knee deep in oil containers after adding 9 + gallons of oil to the engines and generator.
Also had an O Ring delivered which we hope will fix the slow oil leak. That's a fix for another day.
I had less exciting things to do like pay bills and finish cleaning the main cabin. Had to get all the chores done as the rest of our flotilla arrives at the marina right after lunch. Which means we will be deckhands catching lines for about ten boats. Should keep us busy for a bit! Luckily the rain had slowed down so we didn’t get too wet.
After herding all the boats into their slips, we dispersed and let everyone settle in, but will reconvene at docktails to discuss our trip together down the Calumet to the Illinois River, going through the three locks which were under repair for the past 4 months.