Autumn Sunrise

October Sunrise. There are still a few boats in the harbor. Have to credit the optimists that hold out for those last late Autumn lazy boating days.

Bridges

Scene from the el as it crosses over the Chicago River

Same Time Last Year

Must be something about early March and the almost Spring conditions that brings out some pretty sunrises. Purely coincidentally, I posted a sunrise photo last year on March 3, too. The sky looks springlike but, as you can see, the marina is still full of ice and snow. And, they are predicting 50 degree temperatures for later in the week (which was the same forecast for "later in the week" last year, too, according to my 2009 post).

You Want Me to Do What?

I'm not sure who this event was more traumatic for: the ducklings who had to take the plunge or the people who were watching.

Happened to be coming back from a bike ride just in time to see a mother duck lead her ducklings (and a parade of about 8 people) to the edge of the lake. Apparently it was time for these ducklings to start swimming and nothing - not even the 7 foot drop from the walkway to the water - was stopping that duck from getting the kids in the water.

It was rather amusing. The mother duck flew in the water and four ducklings - apparently the trusting ones - just jumped in after her. The next seven, basically, got pushed into the water by their "dear" brothers and sisters who were all jostling each other about as they peeped "Mom, you want me to do what? Jump seven feet into water? I don't think so." Each jump (or push) was followed by a collective gasp from the onlookers.

The last two did not want to go. One of the people watching helped reunite the last two with their family by nudging them further to the edge with a paper bag.

The last one looks like he's doing a reverse open pike.

Just because those show-off brothers and sisters jumped
off this ledge doesn't mean I'm going to do that.
Dry land suits me fine.

Together again. All survived the first swimming lesson.

Two Views of ... DuSable Harbor

Today's "Two Views" is of DuSable Harbor. Now (on the left) and when it didn't exist (on the right).

Simply, Sunrise

Saturday, April 18, 2009, 6:05am

It's Ba-a-a-ck!

In an unexpected turn of events,
Winter has risen from its hibernation ...

and punched out Spring.

Back to the Beginning

My first post was of DuSable Harbor in December. There was snow on the piers and the water was a dark green from the overcast sky. Now it is 100 pictures later and here is DuSable Harbor in March. The snow on the piers is gone. There is still some ice left (top left corner). They seem to be getting ready for the season -- workers are completing the harbor building and there has been some re-sodding of the grass. The water is reflecting the beautiful blue sky that accompanied our 70 degree temperatures yesterday. (Although it's back to the 40s and 50s.)

Nearly Spring Pumpkins

I think somebody had fun decorating these two orange buoys
that are near the Coast Guard station by DuSable Harbor.

A Lot of Ice, A Dust of Snow, A Little Water

OK, so last week it was warm enough that I went running along the lakefront and the ice in the harbor melted. But then it got cold so a thin layer of ice formed. A little lake effect snow added a dusting over the ice. It should melt again with the forecasted weekend warm-up.

Warm - Rain - Flooding - Cold - Ice - Snow - Warm
Must be Spring ;)

Buoys will be Buoys

So this is where the buoys go to hibernate!
Come Spring, they'll be dancing around Monroe Harbor,
marking the places where the boats are supposed to tie up.

Ice Breaker

It's time for a little burst of color after several days of gray.
This is one of the Chicago Fire Boats
(from Engine Company #58).
It's doing a little ice breaking on the Chicago River.

Snow Clues

Evidence that there were some hardy souls
out braving the bitter temperatures

Ice Blue

In case we were wondering, Mother Nature is sending snow and dangerously frigid temperatures our way to remind us that this is, in fact, Winter. I'm guessing that there will be a number of ice and snow pictures posted to the City Daily Photo portal this week.

DuSable Harbor

Welcome to another Daily Photo blog from the City of Chicago! Chicago is such an interesting subject for the camera's eye that there is surely room for a few daily picture blogs from here. I just hope I can keep up with the daily part!

Boaters usually think empty harbors are a sad sight. It means boating season is over and the days will be dark and motionless for six months. Everyone gets their land legs back and I've heard tell of "Why Aren't Our Boats in the Water?" parties being held in February to break the cabin fever. However, I found the sight of rows and rows of empty slips and snow-covered finger piers slightly hypnotic. Truth be told, it's actually the reason I decided to start this blog.

I hope you enjoy it.