Why Hammond?

 Why Indeed?

Hammond, IN is just about the southern terminus of Lake Michigan.  And it is home to the 950-slip Hammond Marina, an AGLCA sponsor and popular last stop for Loopers before they head “down the rivers” toward the Gulf of Mexico.  Beyond that, Hammond has little to offer.  Think of it as Chicago’s industrial sub-basement and you have just about captured its essence.  But the marina is a bargain (40% of Chicago rates) and is adjacent to the mouth of the Calumet River, one of two entrances to “down the rivers” from the Lake for Loopers.   But, beyond the adjacent casino, it has little to offer unless you like to look at industrialized landscapes.

Polar frolicking at Lincoln Park

Our time at Hammond was brightened by a visit from cousin Charlie McLaughlin (and his CAR! 😊).  By road, he took us to Chicago for lunch at the Lincoln Park Zoo and for groceries.  

By water (the next day) we took him by boat into the Chicago River smack dab in the middle of downtown Chicago.   The historians among you will know that in 1900 the City of Chicago reversed the flow of the Chicago River so they could wash their sewage down into the Des Plaines, and  Illinois, Rivers, into the Mississippi, and out of mind (at least until the folks in St Louis caught on).    This required that they build a 600’ x 80’ lock to maintain differing elevations between the Lake and the River.  

Chicago River entrance

In 2020, this was the busiest lock facility in the nation with over 62,000 vessel passages.  And this was our gateway into the downtown.    On Labor Day weekend, no less.  Sheesh.

If the SS Badger schooled us in ship handling, the boating crowd in Chicago schooled us in chaos afloat.  What a Zoo!   Tour boats, motor yachts, kayaks, canoes, cigarette boats, ski boats, 3-hp rental pontoon boats, fireboats, police boats.  You name it, it was on the river that day.   Our Erie and Oswego Canal experience carried us thru in good form.  But only our constant vigilance and God’s love of sailors kept most of these other fools alive.  We made it about 10 bridges into the heart of downtown before we reversed course and headed back to the relative safety of the Lake.   Still, a unique way to see the city, brightened by Charlie’s informed commentary

There will be a brief intermission…..

Hammond Marina also provided a perfect jumping-off point for a week-long ground excursion (in a CAR! 😊) to Boston for the wedding of our son, Daniel, to Ms. Alexandria Smith.   While Admiral Maggie took a week of shore leave with cousin Lauren McLaughlin in Wheaton, IL, we packed up the wedding clothes (A dress,  A tie!  Even socks!) we have been toting around all summer and made the 2-day, 940-mile drive to Boston.

It was a journey of reminders and revelations. 

·        Reminder:  Indiana remains our least favorite state.  Crappy roads, antiquated highway toll technology, miserable speed limits, boring scenery, etc., etc.   (OK,  Indiana IS the birthplace of the toothbrush, so we have to give them that.  But folks from Illinois point out that if they had invented it, it would be called a TEETHbrush.) 

·       Revelation:  VW still builds a pretty decent car. Our rented Jetta was roomy and comfortable and returned nearly  40 MPG despite our customary 75-80 mph cruising speed.

·       Revelation:  We could never live in metro Boston.  Despite prior visits, a 4-day stay, GPS, and an array of back seat drivers, we got lost every time we ventured more than a mile from our hotel.  The street layout is, shall we say, “organic”.  Even Google gets confused.  Sheesh.

·       Reminder:  What a fine man our son has become.  It was a pleasure to watch him interact in his Bridegroom role with guests and family.

·       Revelation:   How VERY fortunate we are to welcome Alexandria to our family.   Wow!

Mr and Mrs Griffith 

All in all, a wonderful affair.

Meanwhile, back on the water………..

We arrived back at Hammond Marina just in time to do our laundry, wipe the cobwebs and bird poop off IRISH LASS,  and welcome guests from Spokane.  Craig & Diana Miller arrived following a baseball pilgrimage to Wrigley Field.   KC and Jan Constable joined us en route to a business event in WV. 

On Day 1, Lake Michigan threw us a curve, a clear calm day!   So, we loaded everyone onto Irish Lass and ran 15 miles east to the vicinity of the Ogden Dunes unit of Indiana Dunes National Seashore. 

 Anchoring in 10 feet of clear water along the nearly-deserted beach, we enjoyed a few delightful hours of swimming and fellowship (and beer) before typical afternoon winds sent us scurrying back to the shelter of the Marina.

Lake Michigan’s weather on  Day 2 became  “variable”, so we all returned to Chicago by train for a day as tourists.  

Gathering at The Cloud Gate

Building reflections

We took an architectural history tour of downtown via a cruise boat on the Chicago River.  With an excellent guide and someone else driving the boat, it was a much-relaxed contrast to our Labor Day visit.  We polished off the day with  Chicago Deep Dish Pizza (OMG!) and reboarded the train for Hammond.

What's Next?

Well, there is nothing like a visit from home to make you homesick.  But that’s a part of the story that will have to wait for next time……….

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