
train in the loop
Got a good night’s sleep and headed back downtown for the Architectural Foundation boat tour. There’s a McDonald’s right outside the train station so I took breakfast there in order to enjoy the full-on American experience. Tasty, cheap, and fast – everything I wanted.
The tour was 90 minutes, with a volunteer commentator. The history and architectural info, illustrated with real buildings all around, was as good as it gets.

view from the boat tour

Chicago River

looking west from the lake

Trump Tower
Then it was back to walking. Chicago is huge, with miles of downtown and lakeshore, so I’m getting fit on my feet. Walked about four hours, to the Navy Pier, then along the shore north to Lincoln Park.

Navy Pier
Everywhere I’ve traveled, l find tourist attractions to amuse and sell trinkets and junk to folks who have not discovered the joy of bicycling. Navy Pier fits the bill in Chicago.

Rides for people who have not discovered the joy of bicycling
I checked the views, ate, and people watched. Energized with Greek salad and lamb, I headed up the Lakeshore pathway.

Organized bike tour group
So I got the lay of the land, enjoyed the shore, and found the original Playboy mansion, which is like Lourdes to those of us who subscribed to the mag when Hef brought good taste to the young men of the world.
Then it rained for about two hours, so I took a cab to supper, got the train, and found a bit of sun as I walked home.
At 18 C, with the day free to use as I pleased, all was good. For me anyway. Wandering, with lots of walking, and only a general plan, would have killed Suzanne. Which, in case you’re wondering, is why I’m in Chicago, and she is in Calgary posting and creating this website for you. It keeps us happy and in love, which is the name of the game here. 🙂