LSD (Lake Shore Drive)

All year we have been saying that we should head down to the city and cycle along the lakeshore. In the summer of course, it can be pretty hot, and so the spring or autumn is usually the best time. Additionally there are restrictions throughout most of the summer on taking bikes on the trains, due to summer festivals, parades, etc.


We had planned this weekend for a few weeks now, hoping we would get good weather, and we could not have hoped for better. Mid 70s, light breeze and very sunny; perfect for a bike ride. For those who know the area, we started at Union station, went down Adams to the lakefront, turned right and headed South, via Northerly Island (a peninsula) and then as far as 31st beach where we actually paddled in the lake. The water wasn't warm, but it wasn't Scotland cold either!

On the way south we passed the Chicago Fire Memorial Park, with a fabulous waterfall, and a stone replica of the Chicago Fire Badge. From there, passing behind Soldier Field, we also passed through the Chicago Police Memorial Park for those who have been catastrophically injured or killed in the line of duty. These are actually two separate memorials in the same park.

This honour roll is for those injured. There are a couple of pictures of the Gold Star Memorial for those killed in this link.




We headed back from there, hungry and thirsty, heading for the John Hancock tower, Cheesecake Factory, cocktails and appetisers. I forgot that on Northerly Island, there was also an art exhibition designed to help kids from different schools and different backgrounds understand each other a little and work together. One of the best pieces was this artwork in tile, if you read it beyond the obvious, it is actually a very powerful message.
It seems a shame that both of these memorials and the art exhibition are so far south of the main areas. I think they will be missed by a lot of people, who simply won't make it that far, and are lost on most of the joggers and cyclists who simply whizz by enjoying the flat paths.

The cocktails and appetisers were of course, excellent as usual, and we met a very interesting lady there. We sat at the bar area so we didn't have to wait for a table, and this old lady was a "Pay It Forward" kind of person. The girls next to her were out for lunch for one of their pending nuptials. On hearing this, she insisted on paying for their cheesecakes (5 of them). Her theory? With 8 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild, she hoped someday, someone would do something nice for them. In addition, based on the same principle, she bought a whole cheesecake for the garage attendants where her car was parked.

We headed off from there and continued North a little ways, intending to reach Lincoln Park and the Zoo, which I think we did, but were on the wrong side of the road. From there it was a race back to get back for our intended train, against the lake breeze, full of food and cocktails..damn that was hard work.

What a great day out though, and even saw some of the funky art in the city, although I cannot explain it, especially the caravan one..they don't even have those here! As usual click here for more pictures.