Day 29: Chicago, Day 2
Nau mai
Yesterday we had a rest day in Chicago.
We all had a night off the bus and Lavonda had a well-deserved rest, remaining parked outside the Salt Shed as we enjoyed the comfort of a hotel bed (separately). The morning was a good time to catch up on sleep, and the afternoon was filled with activities. There was a recommendation that arrived from many different places that I run the 606 and it turned out that our hotel was very close to the 606. Also known as the Bloomingdale Trail, or Park No. 572, this is a cycling and pedestrian greenway (elevated linear park) that provides 4.3km (6.3 ha) of linear trail on a former elevated railway line. The trail was busy with cyclists, joggers, and squirrels, and I even ran into Tristan Deck who was on his return leg and making good steam. We hi-fived in a fashion that would have been the envy of all the other joggers.
Breakfast was had at a restaurant called Devil Dawgs. This was a recommendation, and I was in the mood to enjoy a Chicago cultural experience. Eating a Chicago Dog is about as authentic an experience as they come so I ordered this delicacy and ate it in a about four bites. Inside the steamed white bun could be found a wiener, mustard, onions, relish, a pickle spear, tomato, sport peppers and celery salt.
Wicker Park was a great neighbourhood to be staying in. I got to spend some time exploring one of the great diagonal Chicago streets North Milwaukee Ave and I found it perfectly charming on this gentle autumn evening.
Our evening activity involved attending a performance from one of the greatest songwriters and musicians of all time. Sir Paul McCartney was playing a show at the United Centre, and we were lucky enough that our tours crossed paths and we had the night off. Seeing this band perform was mind blowing. The songs, the bass playing, the singing that this 82-year-old man was capable of was something that we felt blessed to witness.
