A hitchhiker in the middle of Lake Michigan ?

As you can see by the first photo we got out early. Lighthouses are really prettier in the dark.

Around 1/2 way across Lake Michigan we picked up a very tired hitchhiker that rode the rest of the way to Chicago with us.

  The weather forecast called for light winds from the northeast this morning then backing out of the west this afternoon. Neither Jeff or I had heard of the wind backing from somewhere. Well we learned what it means when we were about 30 miles from Chicago. Simply put, the wind will stab you in the back as soon as you are at the furthest point from land. The last 3 hours of the voyage from Holland to Chicago was not any fun. Crossing waves ranging from 3 to 6 feet beat us up pretty bad,  what made it worse was that we could see the Chicago skyline from 30 miles out (still had three hours to travel). I sure was glad I had a salty sailor like Jeff along, we shared the piloting duties in 15 minute shifts over those final 3 hours.

  It was worth the struggle when we reached Chicago by 4:00 and we were docked at Jefferson Marina by 4:30.We are tied up at the first marina inside the Chicago River from the lake; 3 blocks from Michigan avenue, across from Morton's Steakhouse, and three doors down from the House Of Blues.

Dave Bragg arrives tomorrow to replace Jeff. Dave will be on board down the entire length of the Illinois River from Chicago to St Louis.

Leaving Port Holland this morning.

Our hitchhiker earned his ride by gobbling insects on the aft deck.

It was here on the Voyage that he west wind backed in.

We were around 20 miles out when this was taken.

The lock to enter the Chicago River from Lake Michigan..

Chicago Harbor.

View from our dock.

They must have known I was coming.