Getting Ready

The new 31st Street Harbor -- almost ready for the start of the boating season.

Stre-e-e-e-tching to Get Ready

Caught these workers maneuvering some new docks into place in Burnham Harbor. Spring may actually be on the way.

A Buoy's Life

Not sure if they are starting to take the buoys out of the marina or if they just didn't use all of them this summer. They do usually stack them more neatly than this, though.

Never Get Tired of This

I never get tired of the sunrises. They are just all so very different.

August 25, 2010

August 30, 2010

September 3, 2010

(Uh-Oh! This one has an "autumn" look to it)

Monster of the Marina

Now here's a diehard Bears fan. The boat is painted in Bears colors and loaded with Bears logos. To top it off it is in Burnham Harbor with a view of Soldier Field and the alien spaceship that landed on top of Soldier Field a few years ago.

Where The Buoys Are

The Chicago Harbors officially open on May 1st, so they have a few more weeks to finish putting all the buoys in place in Monroe Harbor. They actually are almost done - there's just one middle section that still needs to have the buoys - these buoys and anchors (below) set in place.

Proof

Photographic proof that March came in like a Lion but went out like a Lamb. Of course, it could also be proof that even boaters follow the age old Chicago rule of using old furniture to claim "dibs" on their favorite parking spots (slips).

The chair, though, didn't hold up too well, the top part of the back seems to have broken during the month.

Crystal Blue

It is cold here. Monroe Harbor is starting to ice over.

Waiting ...

... for their ship to come in?
... for the great Seagull King?

Who knows?

But these seagulls certainly think that this marina
is the place to be while waiting for it!

Today is December 1st, which means it is theme day at City Daily Photo. The theme is Waiting. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

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.

Preparing for Class

The Columbia Yacht Club has a sailing
school - Sail Columbia - for children and adults.
Looks like they were setting up for a class or a practice session.
It was certainly a nice day for a sail.

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.

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.