Day 30. Chicago, Chicago!!!

Up bright and early to use tge nearby elevated train into Chicago. Brian went one way for his but tour and cruise and I went another way for my group bike ride. Joined with a family from Canada and Joey led us around the older parts of Chicago. He gave a great history lesson where ever we went and then back along the lake. A beautiful day and highlights were the huge hibiscuc outside the zoo, the size of dinner plates, the lake, riding around and eating a chicago hotdog and coke while watching the Bean and face fountain that blows out water. Just glorious following the bike parks around. Brian loved his tours and went up the top of Hancock building to see the views and chat to a young couple from Boston. I kept my bike and continued after the tour then we met up at the famous deep crust pizza joint, ohhh delicious but sooo filling. We bought back some for our delightful airb&b hosts.
We are both a tad weary and tomorrow we swap over our car and get an ordinary one and head down to my friends in Kalamazoo, not far from Grand Rapids, where I taught. We stay with Jack and Sherie, my friends from COST, and rhey have a few things planned for us.










Comments

  1. Karyn 31 August 2017 at 02:16

    Oh life can be so good! Fantastic that you were able to do Route 66 so thoroughly. Your day in Chicago looks just perfect. The freedom of a bike. Loving the Blog. Wonderful to be able to stay in touch. ( I think I mastered the Croatian sign in this time!) k X

    ReplyDelete
  2. abroadabroad31 August 2017 at 05:58

    What an amazing fountain, but the thing that really interests me is Brian's "but" tour. The mind boggles! I leave for Adelaide tomorrow and may not have wifi but will do a blog if I can and try to keep up with yours. Good work Smith.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anne31 August 2017 at 14:11

    I loved Chicago. A great town with so much to see. Take care and enjoy the rest.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Friday 3rd May. Columbus Zoo.

Image
 A leisurely start to the day and off to pick Roarke  up from kinder then, with baby Emma, we headed to the zoo. Kate was there with  her school along with 100s of other school kids. This is almost the  last week of school for the year. We found Kate and her kids were excited to see Emma and Rourke.  Unfortunately Roarke was not happy when she had to leave. Paula and I tried to distract him and eventually the carousel and lunch helped.  I love the mac and cheese, and by this time most school kids had left so the zoo wasn't as crowded.  We saw the flamingos, seals, penguins and gorillas. We finished the day with another carousel ride for me and Roarke this time and a weird ice cream, Dip and dot. Tiny balls of ice cream?? A tad exhausted we dropped back to Kate's and headed into Free Friday in Delaware.  Candy floss and coloured ice meant Roarke was full of beans!! I had a hot dog and lemonade.....squeezed lemons, water and huge amounts of sugar.  Delicious and a good sugar boos
Read more

Wednesday 1st May. Bike ride along the Kokosing Gap Trail.

Image
 A little sleep in and then after breakfast we headed off in the truck with our 3 bikes in the back. A beautiful  sunny day and we drove for about 50 miles to Kenyon College near Mt Vernon for the start of our bike ride. Once our seats were raised, helmets fitted and deciding to head left rather than right on the trail we headed off. A well maintained trail with wild flowers and a river by our side. 5 miles to Mt Vernon over 2 bridges. We met people along the way to chat to and when we arrived at Mt Vernon we chatted to a marathon trainee.  We headed back to Gambier and checked out the old trains. We drove into the Uni village and had a sandwich at the students Cafe. Lots of wealthy international students attend here and it the 2nd oldest uni in the US.  Love the scenery returning.  Wide open spaces, very green neat grasses and some fields being ploughed.  Time for bed as an early start  to help baby sit Tom and Paula's grandchildren. 
Read more

Saturday 25th May. Bodrum, drive to harbour, tender to boat The Admiral l

Image
 I'm finally on board and ready for our first ride tomorrow morning. So a delicious  breakfast again and a leisurely wait for my pick up at 2am. I changed a $20 us into Turkish lira which I may need out in the countryside.  My driver was excellent and took me to a very rocky beach where I couldn't  see my boat. Finally we went to another Cove where I could see the Admiral. The guys take your luggage and I manoeuvred into the rubber ducky. And we were off. Not far to the boat, then up the side steps, no time to feel unsure. On board, guys brought up my luggage. Shoes off and no paper in loo. Shown to my cabin 3 and unpacked, settled in and used the throne, the loo, literally up on its own platform, like a throne!! Compact but comfy and very clean. Only 5 others there so me makes 6. A couple from Colorado and 2 sisters from Oz, one lives in Canberra the other in Brisbane.  And Paul also from Oz. All my age or older and great company.  So nice to talk Aussie!!! Then more arrived,
Read more