We just had one of our busiest weeks on the Great Loop yet. If you caught up with us last week, you know we just pulled into Chicago, which was extremely special for us considering the proximity to our hometown. With that being said, we’ve been fitting in all the family time possible.

First up was heading back to our hometown for yet another wedding. The previous wedding we attended was my sister’s, so we saw my side of the family for that one, but this wedding was for Evan’s cousin, so now we had the chance to catch up with all of his family’s side. It was a quick two-night trip home before heading back to the boat. Again, we can’t say enough wonderful things about Navy Pier Marina, where we stayed for an entire week. We felt completely safe leaving the boat there for the two nights we were gone, and it was just as enchanting coming back to see the boat under the beautiful Chicago skyline. 

Before gearing up for our cruise through downtown Chicago, we made sure to catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field and grab dinner with Evan’s college roommate. After seven nights in Chicago, we welcomed my mom and step-dad aboard Northern Attitude for our cruise through the Chicago River. 

Dare I say I was looking forward to this day more so than seeing the Statue of Liberty or taking on the Big Chute Marine Railway. As previously mentioned, Chicago was what we considered “our big city” growing up. We’ve spent many times in the city, but never once have we seen it from the water. Even more special? Doing so on our own boat. 

First up was locking through the Chicago Harbor Lock, which we were told is the busiest lock in the country. Luckily for us, we pulled off of the dock right at 8 a.m., so there was no one else in the lock with us. We did a small bit of research to determine when all the tour boats begin their days, and concluded that getting through Chicago by 10 a.m. would be the best option for avoiding as much boat traffic as possible. This was confirmed as an amazing decision, as we only encountered two water taxis. 

There really are no words to describe the feeling of seeing those tall skyscrapers from directly below. Cruising the Chicago River by boat truly feels like you’re floating through the city rather than hobbling through crowds or being stuck in stop-and-go traffic. We were blessed with beautiful weather, and even had a fellow Looper snag some photos of us from land. That day will go down as maybe the most memorable of the entire loop.

Upon exiting downtown, we officially began our time in the inland river systems. We ended the day on the Joliet free wall, before making another hop to Ottawa, Illinois, then again to Hennepin, Illinois, where Evan’s grandma and cousin joined us for the night! They got to experience a full night of boat life by sleeping on the boat and awaking to the sound of the engine.

We were excited to have them experience the 38 nautical miles from Hennepin to Peoria, where we grabbed another free spot on the city dock. It’s safe to say we feel at home officially being back in the Midwest. The rivers are where our boating roots began, and we’re eager to continue this stretch of the Loop for the next 1,300 miles or so. Cheers to continuing the adventure!