Departing Panera, Wilmette 8:30 am traveling down the Lake Front Trail to E. Monroe at the Lake Front Trail site of the moored ship Abegweit and the Columbia Yacht Club. After the tour we'll journey up the lakefront for lunch at Corcoran's Grill and Pub in Old Town. Please bring a sturdy city lock. Distance around 33 miles. Hopefully back by 2 or 3 PM. If you are unable to ride with us please consider meeting us at the ship. My cell phone for the day:773-848-3008 testing is best. If you are a casual rider consider meeting us at the ship and joining the group.
Tour of Columbia Yacht Club moored ship: part of Open House Chicago (Chicago Architectural Foundation free event)
Since 1892 the CYC has been celebrated as one of Chicago's premier boating clubs and sailing organizations. Since the club was unable to build on lakefront property, in 1983 it purchased the MV Abegweit, a 372 foot, 7000 ton ferry from Canada. Now affectionately known as "The Abby", it is moored in Monroe St. Harbor and serves as the club ship and headquarters. Once the most powerful icebreaking ship in the world, The Abby remains "in-service" today as an exclusive dining room and event space. Whats inside The Abby is a veritable maritime museum.
https://www.chicagoarchitecture.org/2014/05/15/10-things-you-probably-dont-know-about-the-columbia-yacht-club/
https://openhousechicago.org/sites/
https://corcoransoldtown.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Corcorans-brunch0417-online.pdf
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Panera+Bread,+1199+Wilmette+Ave,+Wilmette,+IL+60091/Columbia+Yacht+Club,+North+Lake+Shore+Drive,+Chicago,+IL/@41.9799342,-87.8019801,11z/am=t/data=!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x880fc537f0de7d1f:0xe276a0cd0814379b!2m2!1d-87.706898!2d42.07557!1m5!1m1!1s0x880e2b5854994aad:0x4d980eec292a642a!2m2!1d-87.6122542!2d41.8839582!3e1