Sandpiper Departs

Sandpiper departed from Monroe Harbor today, entering the Chicago River through the locks and proceeding down the South Branch. Here she is around 10:00 AM, with the Commodore and Captain on the bow (you decide for yourself who's Commodore and who's Captain) between the Adams Street and Jackson Boulevard bridges. Later that same morning, these same bridges would be opening for a flotilla of 10 sailboats heading not for the Caribbean, but rather to the boatyard for the winter. Loy & Linda definitely have the better plan!

Jim & Colleen Newman and Jim's colleague, Kitty Durant, were on the Jackson Boulevard bridge awaiting Sandpiper to bid them a final bon voyage with a 3'x5' banner hanging from the side of the bridge and a few friendly salutes. There were a number of other spectators on the bridge, too, some of whom waved to Sandpiper, but mostly they were watching the Chicago Police rescuing the coyote who had gotten trapped in the river.