Kayak the Chicago River skyscraper alley (a MoMu15 event)
posted July 1, 2014 9:07 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sat July 26 at 11:30 AM, Water Riders
950 North Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL, USA (Map & Directions)
Let's go kayaking down to see the downtown skyscrapers and construction from the river.
$20 an hour for a single kayak at WaterRiders is a fair price, and you launch out of the way of all the tourboats. I have a great record taking out newbies into the river and them not falling in, so what could go wrong? We'll kayak for 2 hours or so, and then afterwards, we'll track some place down for brunch/ lunch.
posted by garlic to Meetup (25 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

Now you've clearly jinxed it.
posted by eamondaly at 7:04 AM on July 2, 2014


Yeah, it feels like you don't know me at all. :P
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:28 AM on July 2, 2014


I love kayaking and I have not done it at all yet this summer so I am almost definitely in on this!
posted by jessypie at 9:04 AM on July 2, 2014


Is there a rain delay plan?
posted by bibliogrrl at 10:41 AM on July 24, 2014


Not really. Have a suggestion?
posted by garlic at 12:39 PM on July 24, 2014


weather.gov says 30% Thunderstorm chance. I like those odds.
posted by garlic at 12:41 PM on July 24, 2014


the odds seem to have gotten worse...

Back up plan: If we can't see the waterways, we'll look at pictures of the railways! The Chicago History Museum has a an exhibit of Jack Delano's railway photography in Chicago. Plus all the other cool stuff the museum has (Vivian Maier exhibition is still going it looks like) and access to any cool Chicago poster you've seen in the gift shop.



I'll make the call on if we're executing the backup plan based off of weather predictions and what the radar looks like by 10:30 am, an hour before kayak launch time. Sound good?
posted by garlic at 6:57 AM on July 25, 2014 [1 favorite]


It takes me about an hour to get downtown on public transit, so I'll make sure to keep an eye on my phone from the train to know whether I'm getting off at Sedgwick or Chicago! Either of these choices sounds like an excellent adventure to me, so I'm in regardless.
posted by jessypie at 9:08 AM on July 25, 2014


I definitely want to go to either of these things, but I'd be coming from Rockford so that introduces additional logistic challenges. I've had good luck finding parking near the Montrose-Brown stop of the brown line. I can take that to either the Sedgewick or Chicago-Brown stops, depending on where things end up going. Unless someone has a better suggestion, that is.
posted by Green With You at 9:48 AM on July 25, 2014


My weather app says that the rain should long be over by 11. Here is to hoping.
posted by bibliogrrl at 2:42 PM on July 25, 2014


And apparently if we book ahead, we can get 20% off.
posted by bibliogrrl at 2:43 PM on July 25, 2014


Looking good!
posted by bibliogrrl at 8:02 AM on July 26, 2014


Yep. Kayaking is on.
posted by garlic at 8:02 AM on July 26, 2014 [1 favorite]


I may be a few minutes behind. I just got on the train and won't get there till 11:37 according to Google Maps.
posted by Green With You at 8:59 AM on July 26, 2014


We'll wait.
posted by garlic at 9:01 AM on July 26, 2014


Looks like I'm probably one train behind Green With You and will also be a few minutes late. I'm really sorry about this!
posted by jessypie at 9:07 AM on July 26, 2014


On a / the slow bus.
posted by garlic at 9:18 AM on July 26, 2014


Me and baniak are here.
posted by bibliogrrl at 9:22 AM on July 26, 2014


My train has been sitting at Fullerton for several minutes now. I've watched a couple southbound red line trains come and go while we just sit here. Argh!!
posted by jessypie at 9:30 AM on July 26, 2014


We're moving again now, but if you all want to get kayaks before I get there, just tell me which way you headed and I can catch up.
posted by jessypie at 9:36 AM on July 26, 2014


OK I'm at 950 but don't know where to go now. It's just apartments.
posted by Green With You at 9:40 AM on July 26, 2014


Through a building/ towards the river.
posted by garlic at 9:41 AM on July 26, 2014


We're waiting, jessypie.
posted by garlic at 9:42 AM on July 26, 2014


Garlic is the best water guide. I am the worst kayakist.
posted by bibliogrrl at 12:09 PM on July 26, 2014


Thank you garlic for organizing this. I had a lot of fun with everyone and I hope I can come back again soon.
posted by Green With You at 4:23 PM on July 26, 2014



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