[Sloop Scoop 2004] #10, August 19 -- September 1st

[Sloop John B]

Cruisers and crew--

The weather has been cooperative for sailing this week--of course at other 
times than the scheduled sails--and we are positively thinking that it will 
continue.  It did clear up Wednesday night, but too late to go out to watch 
the Perseids (and it was too rough anyway).  Thursday was sailable, but 
overcast.  Next year . . . . Mike and I did a 
last-minute-grab-the-weather-window sail this past Tuesday, and a very 
happy Sloop, who hadn't had sails up in almost two weeks, danced along at 
close to seven knots for a blessedly uneventful cruise.

SAILING TONIGHT (Thursday), MAYBE TOMMOROW, and SATURDAY

We're throwing in another weather window sail for this evening.  Call me at 
home or on the cell if you want to join us (numbers below).  Tomorrow we're 
scheduled to watch the Air and Water Show practice day.  The wind and water 
conditions look good, but it could get wet.  We'll call it tomorrow.  If we 
go, we'd leave around 1030 or 1100 hours.  Saturday looks sunny and 
sailable.  I have room for a couple more people if you're interested.

ANOTHER RACE BITES THE DUST . . .
On Saturday Thomas the Marlinspike, Laura the Vangpire and Skipper Scud 
headed out for what was supposed to be a Lady Skipper Race in 5-10 knot 
winds and less than 2ft waves.  It was immediately obvious that the weather 
gods had changed their minds as there were already 3-5 foot waves and 
building, and 15 knot winds and building.  Since we were motoring full 
speed and making only 2.5 knots, and the weather radio had finally caught 
up with reality and issued a small craft advisory, we turned towards home, 
moored the boat, and had a nice picnic on the mooring can in the protected 
harbor.  (The race results had the winds listed as 8 - 20+ knots and waves 
as 2 - 8 feet, so we figured we made the right call!)

So for all of our big racing plans, we've only done ONE race this year (and 
one stint as committee boat)!

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN???
Is it something I said or didn't say??? I've usually had almost 50 people 
on the boat by now, and I've seen less than 20!  Did you think we didn't 
have space for you?  Did you think you wouldn't be welcome on a 
race?  THINK AGAIN!!!  We've got a few weeks to go, and I can't go sailing 
alone and doublehanding gets tiring, so we want company--experienced or 
not!  Last week I was thinking I should just put the boat away and dream 
about next year, and if no one comes next year I'd just have to sell the 
Sloop to someone that has friends that actually want to go sailing (sniff, 
sob, sniff . . .)  BUT the Sloop won't let me give up so easily, so COME 
SAIL WITH US!

POSSIBLE LABOR DAY WEEKEND CRUISING
Since we don't have crew for the Tri-State this year, we're considering a 
short cruise for the weekend if there's any interest.  We're thinking of 
either a crossing or a trip up to Kenosha.  Interested?  Let me know.

C'mon--get out there!  The water's fine!

Skipper Schuy/Lisa
Land:  773-752-6266, Cell:  773-343-0153
E-mail:  sloopscoop@jewellgems.com
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SCHEDULE (many things permitting . . .)

___Thursday 8/19
Sunset cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.

___Friday 8/20
Late morning cruise to see the A&W show practice.  Meet at the harbor at 
1030 hours.  Bring something for lunch--we can grill if you want.

___Saturday 8/21
A & W show cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1000 hours.  Rain/other 
unpermitting weather date Sunday.

___Wednesday 8/25
Evening cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.  There's food to buy at 
the harbor; they have a grill going on Wednesday nights.  We should be back 
by 2130 hours at the latest, unless people can stay out later in which case 
we can watch the Wednesday evening fireworks from the water.

___Sunday 8/29
Late afternoon cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1600 hours.  We can do dinner 
on the grill and get back in around 1930/2000 hours (so all can be rested 
for work on Monday)

___Wednesday 9/1
Evening cruise.  Meet at the harbor at 1830 hours.  There's food to buy at 
the harbor; they have a grill going on Wednesday nights.  This is the last 
chance for Wednesday fireworks so we'll stay out late to watch them.  We 
should be back by around 2230 hours.
----------------------------------------------------------------
ON THE HORIZON

Labor day cruise

Serene September Sailing

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DIRECTIONS to the HARBOR
--Driving, bus, "L" and bus, Metra, bike/in-line skates/walking
-----
Driving directions
The address is 6400 S. Promontory Drive in case you want to put it in 
Mapquest or Yahoo! maps. It's at the south end of Lake Shore Drive, by 
LaRabida Children's hospital.

***2004 NOTE: CONSTRUCTION ON SOUTH LAKE SHORE DRIVE (the lanes will be 
limited and will get detoured. I'll try to update this through the summer 
as it happens.)***
Get on Lake Shore Drive going south (you're on your own for that part!). 
Take Lake Shore Drive until it ends.  It ends about a mile south of the 
Museum of Science and Industry, and there is actually a sign that says 
"Lake Shore Drive Ends."  Be sure to get and stay in the left hand lane 
once you pass the museum.  Turn left, following the signs for US 
41.  You'll be curving around the harbor on your left. Stay in the left 
hand lane which becomes a turning lane which turns into La Rabida 
Children's Hospital (There's actually a light there now). Take this left 
and at the fork bear left and continue on the road straight past La Rabida 
(eventually on your right) and look for parking. The yacht club is on your 
left. There will be a gate that looks locked but it isn't; you can still 
open it. If you park closer to the parking lot entrance, walk down the 
parking lot ramp.

 From the south:
Get to 6700 South any way you can (Bishop Ford freeway to Stony Island exit 
and North to 67th and Stony, Dan Ryan to 69th street exit and east to Stony 
Island and then north to 67th Street, call for other options) and head east 
to Jeffery Blvd. There is a park/golf course on the left, a gas station on 
the right, and a light. Turn left at the light and get into the right lane 
immediately. Take the first right (US 41). After the turn, you'll see the 
harbor on your left. Get in the left hand lane which becomes a turning lane 
which turns into La Rabida Children's Hospital (There's actually a light 
there now). Take this left and at the fork bear left and continue on the 
road straight past La Rabida (eventually on your right) and look for 
parking. The yacht club is on your left. There will be a gate that looks 
locked but it isn't; you can still open it. If you park closer to the 
parking lot entrance, walk down the parking lot ramp.

--------------------
Bicycle, in-line skates, walking from the north:
The construction affecting the bike path is done!  Take the bike path 
south.  You'll know you're close when you pass the Museum of Science and 
Industry and then the large beach house for 63rd street beach.  The harbor 
is just south and east of the beach house.  Continue south, turn left with 
the path as it continues around the south end of the harbor and when you 
reach the first street, with the sign for La Rabida Children's hospital, 
turn left onto the street.  The road goes uphill (this is relative, it's 
Chicago) and at the fork bear left around the harbor.  Take the road to the 
end and come down the parking lot ramp. Bring a cable lock if you have one; 
there is a bike rack to the left, beyond the small white ice house, between 
the mast rack and the dinghy rack.
--------------
Public transportation:

Bus:
Get downtown (again, you're on your own), and you have a few options:

Take the #6 bus (Jackson Park Express it runs south down State Street 
between Lake and Congress, and then runs down Michigan to Balbo and turns 
at Balbo to get on Lake Shore Drive) to 67th and South Shore Drive.  Cross 
the street to the lake and walk along the sidewalk/bike path north until 
you reach the first street on your right. There will be a sign for La 
Rabida hospital. Turn right and head uphill (this is Chicago, so this 
uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks. Walk 
until you see the gate to the Yacht Club (on the left hand side of the 
street). It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!

Better yet, if it's a weekday, take the #14 (Jeffery Express) (gotta call 
the CTA for this route but it's on State or Michigan for part of it's 
route)--to 67th and Jeffery. There is a golf course to the north and two 
gas stations on either side of the street to the south. From there you have 
two options: walk or another bus.
*Walk east across Jeffery and then north across 67th street and the golf 
course to the end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on 
your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go 
there. Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end up 
on the bike path. Take the path east (turn right when you get across the 
street) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left). 
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the 
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks 
locked, but it's not. Come on down!
*Take the #67 bus east. *Every other* #67 goes to LaRabida, so ask the 
driver if he is going there. Take the bus to La Rabida, and you'll see the 
harbor on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and 
come on down!

Again if it's a weekday, take the #28 Stony Island Express (again check the 
CTA for where to wait downtown) to 67th street and take the #67 bus east 
(see rest of directions in previous paragraph).


"L" train & bus
Take the Red Line (Dan Ryan/Howard) to 67th street
or take the 67 (67th street) bus to the end of the line (every other 67th 
street bus goes to La Rabida and hence the harbor). You'll see the harbor 
on your left. Walk to the gate (which looks locked but isn't) and come on 
down! (If you don't want to wait for the La Rabida 67, take any 67 to 67th 
and Jeffery and follow the directions for walking from 67th and Jeffery above).
OR . . . (if the green line is more convenient for you)
ON WEEKENDS DURING THE SUMMER ONLY--Take the green line (the branch that 
turns *east*, not the one that turns west--it's every other train) to the 
end of the line at 63rd and University. Take the 63rd street bus east to 
the end of the line--that will be the beach at 63rd. You'll see the harbor 
to the south. Walk along the bike path until turns to the left (at the end 
of Lake Shore Drive). Take the path east (the harbor will still be on your 
left) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left). 
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the 
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks 
locked, but it's not. Come on down!

Metra
Take the "Metra Electric District South Shore Branch" (NOT the "South Shore 
Line", which is a different animal) train from either the Randolph, Van 
Buren, or 12th Street stop on Michigan Avenue stations. You
have two choices. You can get off at the "Bryn Mawr" stop (at 71st and 
Jeffery, named after Bryn Mawr school--which was my grammar school (and 
which has since been renamed) -- just down the block) or the "South Shore" 
stop (71st and South Shore Drive, across from the South Shore Country 
Club). The Bryn Mawr stop is slightly closer, the South Shore stop is a 
nicer walk along the lake.
--From Bryn Mawr stop, walk north (the tracks run east/west at that point, 
so if you face the direction the train was headed in and turn 90 degrees to 
your left, that will be north) along the right hand side of the street 
through the next light (67th street) and along the park/golf course until 
you reach south end of Lake Shore Drive. You'll see the sailboat harbor on 
your right (there's a powerboat harbor on the left. You don't want to go 
there). Cross the street (I suggest with the light, here!) and you'll end 
up on the bike path. Take the path east (turn right when you get across the 
street) and then turn left on the first street you come to (on the left). 
There is a sign for La Rabida Children's Hospital. Keep to your left as the 
road forks and walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club. It looks 
locked, but it's not. Come on down!
--From South Shore stop, cross the street to the north to reach the 
entrance of the country club. Follow the sidewalk/bike path north and west 
along the country club golf course and the lake and the park and parking 
lot until you reach the first street on your right. There will be a sign 
for La Rabida hospital. Turn right and head uphill (this is Chicago, so 
this uphill stuff is relative) and bear around to the left when it forks. 
Walk until you see the gate to the Yacht Club (on the left hand side of the 
street). It looks locked, but it's not. Come on down!