Yes... from Colorado. Usually the other way around, but, hey. LOL I am originally from Chicagoland -- DeKalb, and grew up in Normal. Needless to say, back in the day, I didn't have a Ferrari but I do remember the Illinois winters. Are the Ferraris around Chicago and the burbs parked from Nov - March/April? While we're on the topic of fun toys, I also have a 26' open bow boat. What's the boating like in Northern IL? I'm targeting the N/W Burbs for living. Thanks! Rick
Yes - mine are parked from the first real snow (usually week before thanksgiving), until the first hard rain washes away the salt (usually mid March - sometimes earlier, very late this past winter). 26' open bow not great for Lake Michigan much of the time. Typically waves of 2 feet or so, do get less, largest reported in the 20 years I have been here was 33' (yes - thirty three). Waves can build pretty quickly so if you never go more than two hours away, and you start when waves are 1 for or less, you will probably not see more than an occasional 3 if things really kick up. Good boat ramp in Waukegan. Many very nice smaller lakes (hence lake county) and lakes Geneva and Delevan just over the hoarder are nice as well. We have had a boat on Lake MI for many years now but when the kids were smaller, for not too much money we kept a smaller boat on a mooring in lake Geneva (not that hard to find, beautiful deep water lake). Welcome back.
Thanks for the feedback all. Looks like I'll be keeping Isabella (2004 360 Spider in Rosso Barchetta) in my Colorado garage for now. Daytona -- yeah.. FL and Texas were my most likely targets. The job I was offered was supposed to keep me in Denver, then the covered geography switched to Chicago. Thanks for the input on the boating. Sounds like N/W burbs would work best.
A lot of N/W burbs boating happens on or around the Chain of Lakes. Basically, you can start in the Fox River as far south at Algonquin and head north, and you'll hit Pistakee lake first. There is 1 set of locks to get through (supposedly doubling in size this off-season, according to the dock master this summer.) Quite a few bars and restaurants to dock at. In general, the "scene" on the chain is a little more "down home" than Lake MI or Geneva, if that matters. But boaters are boaters, and I've had nothing but fun on all the lakes.
