We decided not to travel today and took a lay day exploring Joliet. The city supplies shore power and the dock wall for free which is incredibly generous. We did long walks around the city and even took a bus out to the Mall to get a few supplies.
Part of the excitement is watching the many huge downbound and upbound barges and “pushers” moving perilously close to our boats. I was apparently a very sound sleeper last night as a double wide load of four barges or a “2x4” was sandwiched between 2 bridges next to us for about 10 minutes.
We met more Loopers tonight as the wall again filled up with more boaters. There is instant camaraderie in discussing the plans for the next day and we will probably leave as a Looper flotilla so that we can all be accommodated in tomorrow’s 3 locks.
Part of the excitement is watching the many huge downbound and upbound barges and “pushers” moving perilously close to our boats. I was apparently a very sound sleeper last night as a double wide load of four barges or a “2x4” was sandwiched between 2 bridges next to us for about 10 minutes.
We met more Loopers tonight as the wall again filled up with more boaters. There is instant camaraderie in discussing the plans for the next day and we will probably leave as a Looper flotilla so that we can all be accommodated in tomorrow’s 3 locks.
