{"id":1424,"date":"2023-06-29T18:32:47","date_gmt":"2023-06-29T22:32:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cincinnatiprime11.com\/?p=1424"},"modified":"2023-06-29T18:32:49","modified_gmt":"2023-06-29T22:32:49","slug":"waukegan-il-to-winthrop-harbor-il","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cincinnatiprime11.com\/?p=1424","title":{"rendered":"Waukegan, IL to Winthrop Harbor, IL"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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It is a short trip up to Northpoint Marina in Winthrop Harbor. The direct route is roughly 6 miles, but we take advantage of the nice weather and water conditions to travel a bit farther out into Lake Michigan and calibrate the auto pilot. Captain Tom likes everything just “perfect”!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The beauty, clarity, and blueness of Lake Michigan water always amazes us. Today is no different!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Leaving Waukegan inlet.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But seeing debris thoughtlessly polluting it, is upsetting. Most people would be shocked to know the number of Mylar balloons we find floating on the water, and not just the Great Lakes, but in rivers and oceans alike. \ud83d\ude21<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Balloons, often released during celebratory events, come down, often landing in our waterways. Here they cause havoc to marine life by entangling them within their strings or causing starvation by blocking their digestive system after ingestion. In fact, for seabirds this is the #1 cause of death from marine debris. Balloons are not biodegradable and are one of the top 10 type of debris found during coastal cleanups. Many laws, rightly so, restrict the release of balloons.\ud83c\udf88\ud83d\udc4e\ud83c\udffb<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We pass by a huge barge loaded with massive rocks and head into Northpoint Marina, whose entrance is somewhat hidden by, what else, huge rocks!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rocks and more rocks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Northpoint Marina Entrance<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The small hidden entrance is quite deceitful, as beyond it lies the largest marina on the Great Lakes! Northpoint Marina has a whopping 1454 slips and can accommodate boats up to 108′ in length.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View of Northpoint Marina. To walk the red path around the marina is approximately 1 mile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we pull into our slip, several resident boaters help us with our lines. The B dock crowd is quite friendly. Tom gets included to a trip to West Marine (now who can turn that down?) and we both are invited to their yacht club for Friday night drinks. They are weekend warriors and the weekend has begun in earnest at Northpoint Marina!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Views from the Northpoint Yacht Club.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The weekend of our stay, Northpoint Marina had a car show and a fishing tournament. Likely, every weekend in the summer, there is something happening at this large marina!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Begrudgingly he gets behind the wheel…\ud83d\ude09<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There also is a marina pool. It is crowded on this 70 degree Saturday afternoon. A bit too cool for us Ohioans. Pool membership is included with seasonal slip renters, but for transients like us, it is $7. Everyone has to have a wristband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Some hearty folks!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We walk along the rocky path to the beach. It is quite beautiful today. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The beach area is under construction. Rocks are being placed to protect the beach from future erosion. This explains the barge of rocks we passed upon arrival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n