The North Branch (for beachzz) by Chipka
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Description
The Chicago River is not the broadest river in the world. It’s not the most impressive. It is dyed green on Saint Patrick’s Day, and it does photograph well, when night-light dances on its surface, but it’s nothing like the Moscow River, the Vltava, or even those more grandiose waterways with names like “Amazon” and “Nile.” It has its charms, however; and its branches wind through some of the more interesting areas of the city.
I’d first seen the North Branch up close—a long time ago in what feels like a galaxy far away; I worked for a major optical retail chain (the guilty shall remain nameless here) and my manager was a rather um…well…interesting speed-enhanced creature who resembled Joanna Lumley’s character, Patsy Stone, in the Britcom Absolutely Fabulous. Unlike Patsy, she was less than fabulous and well…a bit of a pain in the unmentionables. On the flip-side of that, I’d become close friends with co-workers who lived in the Albany Park area. And it was with those co-workers (and the innocent shall remain as nameless as the guilty) that I’d discovered a stretch of the North Branch not far from this location. I remember the apartment vividly, and the tons of pizza consumed while watching Mystery Science Theater on cable tv. Those were heady days, and also the days in which I’d learned how to smoke fine cigars. Nothing beats pizza, beer, and a fine cigar for dessert. Actually many things do but in the interest of nostalgia, I’m sticking with the thought of hand-rolled tobacco and really bad movies on television.
Now, decades later, Corey lives in Albany Park, a block away from the Chicago River’s North Branch. He lives scant blocks away from the three-flat once occupied by friends. I can’t locate it now, and the friends I knew have moved on. They’re somewhere on the East Coast. We’ve simply lost touch as often happens when time passes and other interests emerge. Suffice it to say, I remember this stretch of the river, and the wonder of it winding through a residential area. There are houses with back yards that end at the river, and as expected, this area of the city is prone to impressive floods on occasion. What strikes me now is how narrow and shallow this little river is. You can walk across it, even if you’re incredibly short, though I wouldn’t suggest that now.
Marilyn (beachzz) stated that she’d never seen an actual frozen river (at least not in person) and though this is not completely frozen, this is a really cold and icy river for her. I like this particular view, and though it’s not frozen, it’s frozen enough…with just enough melt to make things interesting. It's not the Eel River, but as a dedication to our resident "Water Elemental" it's a peaceful little stream that presents opportunities to wander, when the weather is right.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting.
Comments (25)
clbsmiley
This is excellent !! beachzz should like this wintry pic. :)
jac204
As always nice picture and interesting story, making you want to go there and check it out.
elfin14doaks
I was going to ask you if they still dye it green. This is a really great shot!
mbz2662
This is great. I just keep looking at it. Those broken off chunks of ice are very interesting.. something I have never seen in person either. I like that I can see the depth and imagine the cold! Very nice shot!
dadon72
A green river would be quite the sight to see... I hope you'll be there to take some shots of it then. A very nice dedi!
MrsRatbag
I've always found water running through the places people live to be magical; probably as a result of growing up in the concrete capital of the world, Los Angeles, where all water is cemented in with high walls to keep it imprisoned from view or escape. This is a fine example of water coexisting in an urban area, and I love that it's mostly frozen and cracked too!
watapki66
I think you summed it up perfectly in words as well as image!
RodS
Most interesting photo - nicely done. And I do so much enjoy your insightful narratives. Keep up the good work!
zoren
great story for this most interesting river, I have been to see it, once.....
beachzz
Thanks, Chip, for this frozen foto!! This looks like the tiniest river in the world, but even as I was looking, I thought, "This river is gonna cause some trouble when that ice starts to melt!!" Any river that runs right thru a town is gonna get some toes (and other things) damp from time to time. There are high water signs along the Eel that are 20' above the roadway, and the roadway is 50' above the river--how's THAT for a bit of water? That was in 1964--people STILL talk about it!! And thanks again for my very own, frozen river!!!
romanceworks
A very interesting photo with those huge slices of ice. I had never seen a frozen river until I came to Colorado. They are quite beautiful, and some water always seems to flow somewhere.I like the contrast of the stark white against the dark water. CC
Amosicho
Great shot
auntietk
Love the photo! We don't get frozen rivers up here either, despite being at a higher latitude than you. (Funny thing, that, don't you think?) That feeling of being in a neighborhood where you used to go frequently is familiar, and you've conveyed it perfectly. Great dedi for Marilyn! Nice work all the way around, my friend.
durleybeachbum
This is so interesting, as I presume it's the same one Corey posted looking across to the houses and gardens. It's a much more acceptable urban view for me, a bit of a cityphobic. I've not seen a frozen river 'in the flesh' either!
helanker
OH That is a marvellous shot! I love these Ice cracks and the deep black ice too. Or it is only thin ice, whatever, it is beautiful and the cosy story too :-)
mininessie
wonderful capture!
Meisiekind
The only time I have ever seen a frozen river was in Edmonton, Canada in 2007. It is a huge river that runs through the city and it was completely frozen. What freaked me out though was the vehicle tracks on the frozen river. And there was also a rather large boat, completely frozen in on the far side of the river... For me, it was a unique experience! Your image is fantastic Chip and thank you for waking up some good memories for me! :))
kgb224
Outstanding capture my friend.
flora-crassella
great and interesting picture!!!!
claude19
It's fun as the vision of a frozen river will take you to make disgressions your old friends and this place so magical that river with wide flood! Very nice picture of these blocks of ice floating in the stream!
blondeblurr
So, does the Vltava River also goes through Moscow ? I thought you said Prague...maybe it's a very long river, like most ! I've recorded AB-FAB years ago and still love it. The English have got the neck, when it comes to humour. Surprising how big those broken off ice-blocks are; imagine being a penguin and floating on one of those, all the way to the big ocean, on can dream ! Brrr, it would be pretty cold but cool to sail along, think: 'Pirates of the Chicago River', North Branch, hasn't got the same ring to it, more like Mission Impossible. But it's well preserved here by you! Cheers BB
jif3d
Yeah, pass on the toe-dipping, as those mini-iceberg's look a little dangerous, although I could use some of that coolness, sitting here typing in the humidity of the sub-tropics and definitely some of those hand-rolled cigars ! Fine capture, memories & ~Cheers~
danapommet
Hey Chip, having relocated to south Florida from New Hampshire, I really miss winter scenes like this one. Beautiful capture and POV. Love your narratives. So full of local information. Dana
nikolais
excellent perspective and narrative.. look forward to viewing them all in a single book someday
Thalyra
Fantastic Scene i love the frozen river and the atmosphere of the place! perfect!:)