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Published: July 12th 2006
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Chicago
Chicago, IL Woke up this morning with only 5 hours sleep and positively ready to drive! Got the rest of the way through NE, stopped by Lincoln to look around. Nebraska's football stadium is really impressive.
I was really surprised by how much I liked Iowa, especially the western parts with large, green rolling hills and little farms. I stopped just outside Des Moines for lunch at a Wendy's, which was completely packed full of, um, how do I say it? Obese people. This is an observation that I've already had on this trip. I sometimes forget living in Colorado that lots of people don't have the healthiest lifestyle, it's by no means limited to Des Moines. What I'm trying to say, without offense, is that I feel really blessed to live in a place that takes fitness and health so seriously!
I hadn't even really thought of visiting Chicago, but I kept getting closer and decided that it was just too good an opportunity to pass up since I would be going right by it, anyways. What a crazy adventure - I decided to park at O'hare since it was the only place I knew for sure I could pick
Football
Nebraska's football stadium up the subway (and NOW I know better, and know where to park for the *real* subway stops!). Spent just a few short hours in Chicago, which was insane and had some awesome energy on a Saturday night.
The real adventure came in trying to get back to my car...I made it as far as the parking lot shuttle at O'hare, but I must've gotten on the wrong shuttle (though I swear I didn't) because we end up like 2 miles away from the lot I wanted to be at and the driver made me get off the bus! So instead of just waiting for another bus, I decided that the hard way is always best and decided to run back to my car! Which would have been fine (I'm in shape, yeah?), except that I didn't *really* know where I was going and ended up running in the wrong direction!
So by the time I figured this out I was *way* far away from the car, so then I get the idea, "Hey, let's climb the barbed-wire fence back into the airport that's hidden behind the thorn bushes". Brilliant. I made it all the way to the
Mississippi
Lily pads on the Mississippi River, Illinois side fence, and luckily spotted the security vehicle just before I started climbing...
Long story (and long walk/run) later, I got back to the car way later than I was originally intending. My cords were ripped up, as were my arms and legs.
Normal people don't end up looking like I did just trying to find their way back to their car at the airport. Why can't I ever do things the easy way? :-) Just not my style, I guess.
On my way out, I drove through some intense traffic, then through Gary, IN. Murder capitol of the US for several years running. What always strikes me about Gary, especially at night, is how the highway is elevated. You look towards Lake Michigan and see these massive refineries bathing everything in this horrid yellow light, smoke and steam pouring into the night. Then you look down into the city on the other side of the road and see nothing but ghetto. Imagine going out your front door and looking out towards these refineries at night. It's almost otherworldly.
By now I was exhausted, well after midnight central, and found the 1st reststop on the way to
Waco
A farm outside of Waco, NE Indy to sleep in the little rental car. Normally I don't like to sleep at rest areas b/c they're pretty sketch and scuzzy guys have a habit of trying to pick me up, but I was too tired to think about that. Still, I kept my wits about me.
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Sarah
non-member comment
funny little thing
I can't believe....let me start over I can believe that you didn't ask for help but what I don't understand is why you didn't ask for help.....its chicago...LOTS of people...security CAR:) But honestly, I haven't laughed that hard in while and your pictures were beautiful! I am really longing for a good trip:) Great story!!!!