Well, we're back in Chicago again. We had some mechanical problems with the boat, an accumulation of breakdowns that left us with only one functional paddle wheel. So we pulled up on a landing in Rockdale yesterday afternoon, just south of Joliet, took the boat apart and Andrew was kind enough to drive down to haul us home just as yet another thunderstorm rolled in.
For those standing on shore, it may seem as if this was a short little trip. 5 days can go quickly when you are doing day-to-day things. But from the on-the-water perspective it was a full adventure enough. Of all the bike touring, canoe trips and camping trips I've been on, this was by far the most challenging endeavor. Riding the sewage-filled Chicago River and the brimming Des Plaines in full flood on a not-very-maneuverable homemade boat was not the simple float trip we'd imagined.
So with hindsight muddling the details, I'll try to write down some of our day by day travelogue for your enjoyment.