Cruisin' with Ol' Beau on the Tennessee

Chicago

I haven't sat down to write since Denver...the last major city we've traveled through and I have to start by saying, "and I thought Denver was cool...that was before Chicago!" I had an amazing few days enjoying the city - the sights, the lake, the people, the rest - it was just what I needed to beat the homesick loneliness.

There's just something comforting about being in the city. The sounds, people, sights, pollution, busyness, energy and excitement...it is invigorating and slowly recharged the life that had been drained during the long days on the road. We arrived on a Friday night and met up with Philip's cousin and went out for some deep dish pizza and then to Guthrie's, a bar where people go to hang out and play board games. We played blockus (one of Phil's favorites) and a trivia game...know it or blow it (I think). Usually, I don't enjoy trivia games as most of mine is in the science realm and most trivia games focus on pop culture....and then I was paired up with Brian and I know he isn't super pop culture savvy so I was a bit worried. To my surprise it was a pretty fun game and Brian found another couple willing to play with us halfway in (he really is one of the friendliest people) which made it all that more exciting! It was a late night.

Saturday morning I woke up and went for a run along the lake. They have a trail that runs along the water and all of its sandy...yes, beautiful sandy beaches! I soaked in the sun and the views. I was also fortunate enough to get in touch with a friend, Michelle, who I used to work with in Seattle and have her cut my hair at the salon she is working at in downtown Chicago...it had been a few months and she put the life back into my hair! She invited us to a fashion show that the salon was helping with that evening...exciting city night life!

Of course, being in the city means a trip to Nordstrom. I had a gift card and so I went and found a pair of purpley shoes with a cute chunky heel to wear now that it is a bit cooler out. Now if only I had an occasion on the trip to wear heels....

Brian and I met up with someone intersted in the trip and had dinner with their friends at a new Mexican restaurant...I had my halibut fix and he had the carne asada...both so good! Another thing I missed...good Mexican food! The people we spent the evening with were absolutely hilarious! We spent some time at one of the couples houses before going to dinner and we played a little parlour game aka the nose game. They staple gunned a sheet up and cut a hole out of the middle. We were split into two teams and had to stick our nose in the hole and then the other team had to guess whose nose it was....so great! It would be a good game at a family outing/reunion because everyone's noses would look the same!

The rest of the weekend consisted of touring downtown, navy pier, millenium park, seeing "Where the Wild Things Are" (not recommended), riding the ferris wheel, getting Brian a new bike, running, swimming, reading, eating out (a lot more than usual), buying a plane ticket to the Dominican and getting caught up on blogging! Really, it was more than I could have asked for...I hope you enjoy the pictures!

Denver

Cool architecture in downtown Denver

The gang at Red Rocks

The past week has been so different from the rest of the trip. I've felt so separated from the whole thing while I've been in Denver. Brian had to fly home for a wedding on Thursday and Phil had some work to do on getting a new bike and getting his old shipped off to Cannondale. Luckily, I was able to use a car of a friend...not just any car but a sporty red mini cooper (you know I love to drive small, fun cars)! The friend, Sarah, is one of our family physician's daughters who we grew up with as neighbors! Lizzy, another of his daughters, also lives in Denver and so it was fun to spend some time with both of them. Sarah and her family headed to Chicago on Thursday afternoon, so she so generously offered up her house for me to stay in...what a treat. I was so blessed with a comfortable house, beautiful garden and much needed solitude. I had time to read a few books, one being "Till We Have Faces" by C.S. Lewis, granted I only finished the first half, and I had read the first half once before...I'm not sure if I ever finished it so I'm planning on picking up a copy as soon as I get a chance (the one I was reading was from Sarah's bookshelf). On Friday, I treated myself to a much needed pedicure after weeks of flip flops and dry weather and then went shopping at a fancy shopping center in Denver...it wasn't the same without Jennie or Kendra with me though. It seems like one of them is always my partner in crime :)

We are back on the road again...heading to Nebraska. It's been a rough day as I am recovering from the flu and the guys are biking in some not so nice conditions. I stopped at the dollar store and picked them up a couple of gold medals...which I'm planning on honoring them with when they make it to the Sterling rest stop! They are out there on their bikes day in and day out, rain or shine, and they always (well usually always) have the best attitudes and biggest smiles on their faces! What an inspiration they are!

Week 5 Pictures!