Business took me to Chicago to evaluate a software system. When our group wasn’t nose deep in computers we had a little fun in a way I could never have imagined. First we caught a Blackhawks Hockey game and then we were hosted on two different Chicago Police Department Marine units who took us for a float down the Chicago River.
We met near Columbia Yacht Club just south of Navy Pier north of Millennium Park where we drove down an icy dock paralleling frozen slips. We slid down an icy gang plank to the boats as if there was nothing at all unusual about navigating frozen waters in sub-zero temperatures.
Chicago is a beautiful city with amazing architecture. There is no better way to see it than from either Lake Michigan or from the Chicago River. Chicago has improved the river walk since the last few times I have been there which is also a nice way to see the water. We were fortunate enough to sail up river at sunset and down river in the evening so we could see all of the steel bridges and lit buildings.
The officers who took us on a tour were knowledgeable and hilarious and just an all around bunch of fun. Naturally, my ship Captain saw some sort of nautical intelligence in my eyes and turned over the helm to me. So, yes I drove a police boat down the Chicago River! Don’t ask me how that happened. It just did and it is right up there as one of the coolest things I have done in a very long time.
Despite the frigid temperatures I did manage to step out of the cabin to snap a few photos I hope you will enjoy.
To read more about my last trip to Chicago in July 2015 please click here!
What a great way to see the city! And a unique story to go with it.
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Great pictures, I particularly like the night time one. It’s always interesting to see a city from a different perspective like a river or a hill.
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Great photos! I love to visit Chicago. A wonderful city for convention, so much to see, and great food… 🙂
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What a beautiful setting. Your night shots are very crisp and clear, considering that there was not much light and you were in a moving vehicle! 🙂
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Thanks! And they were taken with only my iPhone!
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What! IPhone? The night shots were really clear. I thought you used a DSLR camera on a tripod…in the boat steering with one hand and taking photos with the other!
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Ha. I wish but no. Surprisingly it was the iPhone which is notoriously bad at low light photos…from a moving boat. Sometimes we just get lucky!
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Great shots along the river with a perspective of Chicago I haven’t had. I trust you were working on the police departments software, given the opportunity. It must have been a kick to pilot the boat. –Curt
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One of the departments there has a piece of software we want to buy so we went to observe it in action. And yes driving the boat was so darn much fun.
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Great for the CV! Did you get to take part in a high speed chase?
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No high speed chases this time around! I am sure they will call me if they need backup!
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Aw, I love Chicago! I was there for work a couple years ago. It was the first time in over a decade and I forgot how much I enjoy that city. I spent a lot of time at the Art Institute and had some sort of emotional epiphany in the Monet gallery. I started weeping like a weirdo all by myself in the middle of the space. Overcome by the light and color it seems. In my whole life, I’ve never had that strong a reaction to art. Full disclosure: I was very hungover.
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I wonder if when the GREATS made their art they thought about how it would be received by the hungover? Sometimes that is when you can let go of the part of your brain that holds the emotions back. I say you were in a great spot to view art. Glad you enjoyed it. Chicago is a Boss of a city for sure. Good times are always to be had even when it is below zero.
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Great post!
Love the photos, as always.
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When travelling anywhere, so much better than seeing is doing. Excellent you got to take the wheel in your hand and command the boat!
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It certainly makes the experience so much more memorable doesn’t it!? Thanks for the comment. You look like you have been having a lot of fun lately.
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I’ve been freezing my ass off in Toronto lol most recent trip was September, but headed to Europe end of March!
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Nice. To me you are doing all of this traveling now! Or it seems that way on your blog. I will just go with that so I can send you warm thoughts. Where are you headed in March?
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The Netherlands and Denmark 🙂 thank you for the warm wishes.
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I’m headed to Paris in April. I’m very excited.
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Good stuff, you won’t be too far away!
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I just loved Chicago and it was lovely to see it through your eyes at night down the river as I only did a cruise during the daytime (was very cold though I must say).
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We were lucky in that we went up the river during the day at about sunset and down the river at night. We got the best of both worlds for sure. It’s a beautiful skyline and the river walk only gets better and better as the city expands it.
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Looks like fun, hopefully the GPS issues didn’t get in the way too much! 🙂
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What a great experience to remember!
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Amazing photos, definitely sounds like a unique tour!
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Thanks, it was really a lot of fun.
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Very cool photos,….Waw! Really beautiful photos at night! Waw! 👍👍👍
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Love the idea to wander a city through the river – what a fantastic idea! I have to visit Chicago someday – most likely in June, I will check if they have river tour around Chicago..thanks for sharing your experience and great images!!
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They definitely do have river tours and I would highly recommend it. You should also check out a Cubs game. Doesn’t get anymore American than watching a baseball game! And there is no better place to see one than in Chicago at Wrigley Field. The Field museum is also worth a visit for sure!
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Thank you for the tips! Oh I can’t wait for June to experience Chicago! I met a lot of people here who used to live there and they said positive things about the city 🙂
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It’s a great city for sure. Lots of beautiful architecture. They have an architecture walking tour and one from the river as well. Millennium Park is great. If you could visit during The Taste Of Chicago you might be able to eat some great food too. And whatever you do you must walk along Lakeshore Bl and view the city from the Lake. It’s a beautiful city.
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What a lovely experience (and photos; particularly like the night one. Top notch)
Boats are fabulous “entities”. Any sailor will tell you each has some kind of soul.
And driving one? (Do you have a permit?) Great.
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No permit here! Don’t tell the cops!
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My lips are sealed. 😎 bon week-end mon amie.
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We are headed to Monterey aquarium and a drive up the coast!
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Sounds nice. The famous Hitchcock scenic route?
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I don’t know if he did anything down here but he definitely filmed up north on the coast.
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I thought so too. Not quite sure of the exact location, but I always thought that the day I came to California with some time ahead I would take that drive… Not on the LA highway, though. 😉
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Oh what a fun post this is 😀
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Glad you like! It was a glorious way to see the city.
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Great photos.
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Thank you!
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