Part of my training for the big Bike Ireland trip coming up in September is riding as much as I can while at home. The way I feel after 20 miles this afternoon, I still have a long way to go. Although, the 16 mph winds didn't help much, but they sure made it fun watching the waves on Lake Michigan.
Started my ride by stopping by the Chicago Theater to take a tour. Unfortunately, since the union crew were still tearing down the stage from the previous nights event (Macy's Glamorama), we couldn't tour backstage or get on the stage at all. But it was still pretty cool to see more of the building than I'd ever seen when going to see performances by Tori Amos or the Shaolin Monks.
After that, rode through Millenium Park and hit the lake front trail and headed south. Down through the museum campus, passed Soldier Field & McCormick Place, all the way down to Promontory Point. A wedding was being held down there, so aside from the U. of C. students sunbathing and reading on the rocks, there was a bit of formal attire around too. Interesting mix.
After the rest stop watching the waves, headed over toward where the 1893 Columbian Exposition was held. Rode passed a replica of the statue "The Republic", then around the Museum of Science and Industry, one of the only permanent structures built for the Fair. Near the museum was the Japanese Garden, tucked out of sight from most of the roads around Jackson Park. Next was down the Midway Plaisance near the University of Chicago. Here was where the Fair's big attraction, the Ferris Wheel, stood. In fact, word is when they were building the structures for the current skating rink in the middle of the Midway, they found some of the old hardware from the old Wheel. After that I rode by the Lorado Taft piece "Fountain of Time" in Washington Park where if Daley gets his way, that's where the stadium for the Opening Ceremonies & Track and Field events will be held for the Olympics in 2016.
It was then time to start heading back north toward home, and that's when the 16 mile an hour wind starting kicking my ass. Sure, after I had already rode 10 miles... maybe I should have gone north FIRST when I started my ride, so the wind would have been at my back on the ride home.
PassedSox Park on the way home, a little too early to stick around for the game later that night. And eventually, I did crawl home. Barely.
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