WINTER WILL BE HERE BEFORE WE ALL KNOW IT, FOR SOME OF OUR NORTHERN FRIENDS IT HAS ALREADY SET IN.THE DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY IS STARTING TO SET IN. NOW THAT THE BOATS ARE ALL PUT AWAY FOR A LONG WINTERS NAP WE SHOULD ALL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO HELP EACH OTHER GET THROUGH THE ROUGH TIMES. I FOR ONE WOULD ENJOY VERY MUCH TO HEAR FROM ALL THE MEMBERS ON WHAT THEY DID ON THERE SUMMER VACATION. DID EVERY ONE DO EVERYTHING THEY WANTED TO DO OR GET DONE.
LIVING ALONG THE BANKS OF THE KANKAKEE RIVER, OUT SIDE A SMALL TOWN OF 5000, ABOUT 60 MILES SOUTH OF CHICAGO I FEEL I MIGHT HAVE AN ADVANTAGE TO BOATING. MY WIFE AND I TRY TO GO FOR A RIDE AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A WEEK. THIS PAST SUMMER WE GOT TO GET AWAY ON THREE WEEKEND BOAT TRIPS EACH ONE A VERY MEMORABLE EXCURSION.EVEN THOUGH SHE ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL WITH HEAT STROKE ON ONE OF OUR VOYAGES IT WAS NOT ENOUGH TO DISCOURAGE US FROM GOING AGAIN.
FROM OUR HOME WE HAVE ACCESS TO JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE WE COULD WANT TO GO. THE KANKAKEE IS A SMALL RIVER THAT TIES INTO THE DESPLAINES RIVER TO THE NORTH.FROM THERE WE COULD TRAVEL THE GREAT LAKES,BUT SO FAR WE HAVE NEVER MADE IT PAST A NORTHERN SUBURB OF CHICAGO NAMED WAUKEGAN,ABOUT A 90 MILE RIDE. ALTHOUGH THE 28 FOOT CARVER MARINER IS A STOUT CRAFT IT GETS VERY SMALL IN 3 FOOT SWELLS ON LAKE MICHIGAN.LAKE MICHIGAN IS A VERY BEAUTIFULLY LAKE AS LONG AS IT IS CALM BUT IT CAN TURN VERY QUICKLY WITH A LITTLE NORTH WIND. OUR PREFERENCE IS TO HEAD SOUTH.
THE KANKAKEE RIVER ALSO TIES INTO THE ILLINOIS RIVER AND HEADS SOUTH.THE WATER IS NOT AS BLUE OR AS CLEAN AS THE LAKE BUT YOU NEVER LOOSE SITE OF THE SHORE LINE AND THAT WORKS FOR ME.GAS STOPS AND RESTAURANTS ARE ALSO MUCH MORE PLENTIFUL. THE ILLINOIS TRAVELS ABOUT 277 MILES DOWN TO THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, FROM THERE THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS.SO FAR WE HAVE ONLY GOTTEN DOWN TO PEORIA IL. ABOUT 120 MILES FROM HOME, SOMEDAY WE WOULD LIKE TO GO DOWN TO KENTUCKY LAKE AND THEN ONTO THE BIG, EASY NEW ORLEANS. I FEAR THAT WOULD TAKE A LITTLE LONGER THAN WE HAVE TIME AND MONEY THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN OUR LIVES,BUT IT DOES NOT HURT TO HAVE A DREAM.
THE BIGGEST DRAW BACK TO OUR WATER SYSTEMS HERE IN ILLINOIS, IS THE LOCK AND DAM SYSTEM.IF YOU HAVE EVER WAITED FOR A LOCK YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.WE HAVE MET A LOT OF FINE PEOPLE WAITING FOR LOCKS AND HAVE CAUGHT OP ON A LOT OF SLEEP BUT THEY ARE STILL A DRAG.
WE ENJOY OUR LITTLE BOAT TRIPS, BUT COMING HOME IS STILL THE BEST.THE NEIGHBORS COME OUT THE DOGS BARK THE KIDS WANT TO KNOW WHY WE ARE HOME SO SOON, IT'S GREAT.THERE IS NO PLACE LIKE HOME.HAPPY VOYAGES TO ALL,AND I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU ALL SOON.
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DEPRESSED
Posted - 11/01/2005 : 7:42:28 PM
