Day 61 Detroit-Chicago, USA

A very early start for us all as getting out of Detroit as soon as possible was high on the list of necessities and getting to Chicago to see as much as possible in the few days that we were here was going to be a struggle. We had booked into the Congress Plaza Hotel which although being expensive it was in the downtown loop so we were fairly central to everything we wanted to see. As we arrived early we couldn’t check in yet but left the car in the hotel car park and set off on foot. The immediate views were fantastic and before we had even walked 400 metres I was already pleased I had the chance to explore more of the city, and happy I was out of Detroit. We walked past the Buckingham Fountain which looked even more spectacular later in the night when the lights were on the fountain, and on to the harbour and Navy Pier. After a quick snack it was shopping time and after searching in every city on the trip so far at last they had lance armstrongs new clothing range in Nike Town. Although I managed to purchase a T Shirt I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of stock they had, but once I had paid for it I was as happy as a pig in shit but on the way out I noticed they were selling Lance watches. Decisions decisions my Nike watch gave up the ghost a few weeks ago after swimming while wearing it (even though it said it was water resistant). But could I pay the $349/ 175 for it when I still had my hiking watch with me that cost the same and does the same job. So tempting but I managed to control my shopping addiction and waled out with just the T Shirt. An even more bizarre moment happened in Virgin music megastore when a woman asked me to model some tshirts for her as she said I was the same size as her friend she was buying them for. I quickly obliged her offer and she was thrilled I said yes. Hmm maybe theres a career for me. By then it was time to check into the hotel and a quick shower and change (into my new lance top) and we were out again without even having the time to breath. Now we were off to meet JR and Lisa (friends of simon and jill) in a bar in Berwyn who were going to give us a tour of Chicago in the car. We had a meal and a couple of beers were sampled from the list of over 200 they had there and then took a look at their apartment which was fantastic and the layout of it was so different compared to most standard box shape houses in the uk. I really could see myself living in that apartment and even more so in Chicago after the tour in the car. JR bring a cyclist himself was telling me about how the mayor had made Chicago such a cycle friendly area with all the bike paths and also they have days where they shut off busy roads just for people to cycle along them, and then theres the path along Lake Michigan which is beautiful with the small beaches and harbour, so I could also enjoy a run whenever I wanted a rest from the bike. We also drove past Wrigley Field where the Cubs play baseball and along Halsted Street where theres shall we say some exotic clothing shops and gay bars mainly but also on this street was jills must visit place while here the Chicago Diner (a vegan restaurant). Other places worth a mention are the biggest grossing Mcdonalds in the world apparently in the world which has huge and I mean huge letter M’s outside it. Then the Sears Tower and John Hancock Observatory (104 and 93 floors respectively), The Adler Planetarium, Museum of Natural History and Museum of Science and Industry. Another spectacular site was Soldier Field where the Chicago Bears play American Football. It’s a complete contrast between old and new because previously there was just a huge War memorial building that looks breathtaking but then inside it they built this new and modern looking football stadium. I guess you either love it or hate it but you have to see it to believe it. Last on the list and the pinnacle of the tour was the United Center home of the Chicago Bulls basketball team and previously the legend himself Michael Jordan. Now nothing else mattered and I didn’t care where we went or what we did, especially after getting my photo taken next to the Michael Jordan statue. So a massive thanks to JR and lisa I had a great night and got the chance to meet 2 great people.

Millenuim Park

The Bean

Buckingham Fountain

Sears Tower

Church Downtown Chicago

View from Navy Pier

Downtown Chicago