All 18 downtown Chicago bridges are movable and beginning in May through June and again in September through November on Saturdays and Wednesdays local boat owners bring their masted vessels from winter storage to Lake Michigan for the summer, alas I am not one of them. Each bridge lift takes 8-12 minutes, they are lifted one bridge at a time and it can take upwards of 4 hours to make the trip through the city.
This shot was taken from underneath the same bridge as in yesterdays post looking west towards the State Street Bride being lifted.
What a great sight. I remember seeing all the yachts making the return trip to their winter storage at the end of October a couple of years ago.
Nicely captured.
Must be some sight among all that high buildings to see these graceful boats make their way through the city. All the more special as it only happens twice a year.
@jack4john Oops I was not clear enough in my narrative (which I have now changed) it actually happens every Wednesday and Saturday from April to June, then I believe there is a short break until September when boat owners start to take their boats back to winter storage until the mid November just before winter starts to take its grip.
@ukandie1 I was thinking that it must be amazing sailing past all those glass towers and then out into open water. My niece spent a summer in Chicago where she was nanny to the children of a Red Sox player , she said it was an amazing experience. The only personal experience of America was 2 weeks spent in New Bremen Ohio , with the company I worked for back then. I really want to visit again but there is so much of the country I want to see. I will have to take a year out and become a hobo , hopping rail cars...I wish....
Wow, where I am from, the bridges only open during the night hours, so you really have to watch when to get home after a party - otherwise you are stuck on one side of the river till dawn.
Nicely captured.
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