Cal-Sag, Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

Once through the Thomas S. O'Brien Lock we were traveling on the Cal Sag Waterway which takes us to the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal. The following picture is looking up the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal or the Chicago River. This is where we would be coming from had we been able to go through downtown Chicago.

Junction of the Cal Sag and Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

 At the junction of the Cal Sag and the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal we encountered very heavy commercial tug and barge traffic. While it did slow our progress some the tug boat pilots without exception were wonderful to work with. Many times the tug boats would move over or stop what they were doing moving barges around just to let us by. This is not something that they have to do and by law they have the right of way. In order to return this courtesy we always call any working tugs that we come in close proximity with, on the radio, to ask how they would like us to pass.

Typical Congestion on the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal

Sadie Too on the Ship Canal

The above picture is pretty much what we were looking at for the rest of our trip through the end of the Sanitation and Ship Canal ending at the Lockport Lock. While this was not the most picturesque scenery, it was very interesting and something that you just don't get to see first hand from land.

Waiting to enter the Lockport Lock

In preparing for our trip around the Great Loop we read many accounts who have completed this journey and attended a couple of seminars, so we would know what to expect. Most people say that locking is the worst part of the trip. We have found that waiting to pass thru a lock is really the worst part. While all of the lockmaster have been extremely helpful and wonderful to work with, (by the way they are government workers) commercial traffic has priority and they can take a very long time to get into and out of the locks, especially if they need to breakdown their load to fit into the lock. That being said the lockmasters do their best to get pleasure boats through as quickly as they can.

Leaving the Lockport Lock

Upon leaving the Lockport Lock we are no longer on the Chicago Sanitation and Ship Canal. We are now entering the Des Plains River.