Locks: 2; LWT: 45 mins; TTT: 7:10 hrs)
I have introduced a couple of different statistics for the rivers: the number of locks traversed and the Lock Wait Time (LWT). Both influence the travel day dramatically. But so far so good.
There are two ways to enter the river systems; through downtown Chicago which is impressive but limited by vertical clearance and the Calumet River. We have to take the latter and it is not pretty what-so-ever.
The entrance here looks not bad, industrial, but not bad. 
Then you see many scrap metal places and lots of coal transfer points. This goes on for miles.
The water is dirty and has lots of garbage floating in it. With the current drought the algae is flourishing. Here are some disgusting views. I bet Headquarters does not stop for a swim again for a very long time.
One must also take a deep breathe to get under all of the bridges. We spoke to the first bridge attendant and we were borderline on vertical clearance. The guaranteed clearance was 18' 4" and I figure that Q needs 18' 6". The attendant said the water was down so we should be OK. Hmmm! Linda said no way. We approached slowly with people looking on from the bridge towers and Linda watching from the front deck. Nothing hit; whew. That was the lowest bridge so we were good to go the rest of the way without requesting that each bridge be opened. Judge for yourself, this is what Linda saw.
The other concern in this stretch is the number of barges and tows being shuffled around. On this day we were fortunate; whenever we encountered one there was plenty of room to either pass or wait for him to turn.
This is where the Chicago's Sanitary and Ship Canal and the Calumet River meets up with the Illinois Waterway.
The last issue in this section is the electrical fish barrier designed to stop the Asian Carp from getting into the Great Lakes. Really a non event to cross this section of the canal.
After a long day we stopped along the free wall in Joliet, had a nice BBQ steak and met the Harbor Hosts from the area. We are glad that the worst is behind us and that it only gets better from here on down... as long as there is enough water.
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