Chicago Fun

Took Monday off with no run and not even a walk, as it was a busy day at work and I didn't get off my last call of the day until almost 6:00. 

Didn't make it out the door on Tuesday morning, so instead snuck in 3:00 pm run on the cart paths before getting dinner ready and taking Sam to late swim. Very blustery!! 💨💨(6.0 miles)

Got in a short walk on the track during swim practice, just enough to move around a bit and not sit on the hard bleachers for the full hour. (1.25 miles walked)

Wednesday morning was gorgeous, cold and crisp, with the bright moon above and a nice glow on the horizon as I ran across the bridge over the Androscoggin. Love the early morning light right after daylight savings, even if I know it isn't going to last. Legs are coming around, although still slow feeling. (6.3 miles)

So pretty 🤩

Another long day at work on Wednesday with an event in the late afternoon, so didn't get home until 6:30. With the two long days already plus a holiday on Friday, I just worked a half day from home on Thursday, which was nice as it meant I had the chance to get out for a run in the daylight after dropping Sam at school. Ran out on the powerlines. A bit warmer and nice and bright. Felt tired. (5.7 miles)

Took Thursday afternoon to get my typical Friday chores and errands done, as I was off on an adventure on Friday instead! Several months back, Kris, Corie and I planned a long weekend getaway for the three of us. While I've seen both of the girls separately over the past few years, we haven't had a chance to all get together in ages! And so a Chicago Veteran's Day weekend trip was planned 😊 

Which meant Friday morning, I was up at 3:30 am to drive to the airport. Gotta love traveling!! 😉😆 

Too early for Starbucks to be open… this will have to do… 😴

All was going smoothly until we were taxiing out to the runway, and then the captain came on to say there was a mechanical light that had come on and we’d be heading back to the gate… sigh. 

Time for more caffeine…

We finally took off (again) at 8:30, and made good time to Chicago, where I successfully ordered myself an Uber and made it to the hotel. What can I say? I don’t big city much, if at all, and I had to download the app just for this trip 😂😂 In a stroke of luck, our room was ready so I checked in, went up to the room, marveled at the lake view, and quickly changed to go out for a run before Corie arrived! Exploring the way I know and love best…while running! 🏃🏼‍♀️🌆❤️

Lake view from the room!

Beautiful day with a bit of a breeze along the lake, lots of stops to consult the map and a lot of people! Ran on the road and along the lakeshore path, exploring - what fun. A great way to kick off the weekend! (5.3 miles)

Roses! Still blooming and looking lovely!

The Bean! Neat. 

Looking toward the Navy Pier

Skyline view along the Lakeshore Path

Loved these flower sculptures

Then it was back to the hotel for a shower before Corie arrived! We headed down the street for a late sushi lunch and then took a walk along the water on the lakeshore path. Didn’t turn on Strava but I’m guessing we walked a mile and a half or so. 

Crazy hair from the wind 😂

Very breezy!

Kris arrived around 4:00 so we relaxed and chatted in the room for a while before wandering out for dinner. Ate at the Nepal House - yum!! 

Cheers!! 🍻

We were all tired after being up early and traveling, so we didn’t rally for anything after dinner except to walk back to the hotel so we could get in bed and chat some more before falling asleep 😂🤷‍♀️

Slept well, waking up at 7:00. Guess I was tired! We eventually wandered down to get breakfast and headed out around 9:30 to start the day. Walked up to the Navy Pier for an architectural boat tour up the river. The tour guide was great, giving us lots of info and keeping us entertained. The only downside was that it was quite chilly! We were all frozen by the time we got back to the dock. 

City view

Neat skyline 

Boat ride view of the city skyline 🤩

We went into the Pier after the boat ride, where there were tons of stores and places to eat and we wandered all the way through to the hotel and back before finally getting warm. Then we found lunch and sat and relaxed for a bit before wandering back out into the streets to walk back to the Art Institute of Chicago. Really cool museum with a lot to see but way way way too many people for my liking. I wore my mask in the airport, on the flight and in the Uber, but was trying to be less anxious and did not wear it while with the girls anywhere. The museum made me wish I had one on. Anyway, other than that, another fun couple of hours walking around and taking in the art.

Giacometti, Walking Man

Caillebotte - always liked this painting 

Chagal windows 

Ibis from 600 BC. Really cool.

Tiffany window. Truly beautiful. 

Then it was back out to the streets as the sun started to set. We walked up to River North to try and find a place to get a drink. Everywhere was packed, even the tiki bar 😂 We finally found a section of couch and a chair at a nice spot and had a drink before heading to our dinner at the Hampton Social, which was quite delish! 

Selfie with the Bean 

Walking along the lakeshore path up to River North

The double corn cobs, as our tour guide called them. Fun!

Cheers!! Finally, a drink! 

Walking back, we came across this light show on one of the buildings. Neat. 

After dinner, on our walk back to the hotel, we stopped in to the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel, where Corie had stayed in the past for a work trip, to check out the rooftop bar view. None of us wanted another drink but the view was nice! Then it was back to the room after 12 hours out, and Strava counting 6.9 miles walked, but I missed several sections that we walked and that doesn’t count in the Pier and museum either, and my step count was over 21,000 so maybe really 10 miles? A long but full and very fun day 😊

Rooftop view looking out over the city towards the lake

I had the earliest flight out on Sunday so after a walk to get bagels and coffee, and a bit of relaxing, I headed off in another Uber for the airport. Turns out, there was literally no line at all at security, so I needed have worried or arrived quite so early! Did some laps around the terminal, got some lunch and then the rest of the trip was relatively smooth, with the flight departing and arriving on time. It was such a fun weekend and so great to see Kris and Corie, but it is always nice to come home 😊 I had missed my people!

While I was away, temps were in the 70s on Saturday while we were freezing in Chicago 😂 and Sam and Ryan took a  trip to Portland eating sushi for lunch outside, and enjoying ice cream and a bit of wandering around the Old Port, so everyone had a good weekend! 💗