I woke up at 8am to a heavy thunderstorm. Weather in Chicagoland was twice as warm as in southern Arizona, which was experiencing mountain blizzards. It rained all morning long, washing away all the snow that fell C'mas Eve.
I was afraid the rain was going to cancel my plans of a day in Chicago for photos and fireworks. The rain was at times intense, and I don't like walking in storms.
My alternate plan then was to drive to East Chicago, town of my birth, and photograph "urban decay,' my theme for the day. After a filling lunch at Mr Gyros off highway 30 in CP, I continued north on Hwy 41, the route I stayed on until I got to Chicago, past the BP refinery, belching stell mills and abandoned lots sprinkled with Spanish graffitti. The rain still kept going, so any photographs were taken from the van while pulled over or at traffic lights. The stares I got from the locals were disconcerting, so I opted to cancel my theme and simply head into Chicago, if only to drive around in the rain. I took the old highway 41 into the Loop, driving along a congested Lake Shore Drive.
It turned out to be a good decision as an hour after getting into Chicago the rains stopped and I was able to get a good workout in, walking over nine miles when I finally drove back to CP.
I was afraid the rain was going to cancel my plans of a day in Chicago for photos and fireworks. The rain was at times intense, and I don't like walking in storms.
My alternate plan then was to drive to East Chicago, town of my birth, and photograph "urban decay,' my theme for the day. After a filling lunch at Mr Gyros off highway 30 in CP, I continued north on Hwy 41, the route I stayed on until I got to Chicago, past the BP refinery, belching stell mills and abandoned lots sprinkled with Spanish graffitti. The rain still kept going, so any photographs were taken from the van while pulled over or at traffic lights. The stares I got from the locals were disconcerting, so I opted to cancel my theme and simply head into Chicago, if only to drive around in the rain. I took the old highway 41 into the Loop, driving along a congested Lake Shore Drive.
It turned out to be a good decision as an hour after getting into Chicago the rains stopped and I was able to get a good workout in, walking over nine miles when I finally drove back to CP.
I parked at Lake and Canal Streets, which turned out to be two miles from Navy Pier. Parking was $2.50 an hour for a two-hour limit, which I knew barely gave me enough time to walk to the lake and back for photos. So I did a powerwalk, starting on Wacker Drive, then south on State and then eastward toward Grant Park. The sun came out then, then the sunset casted beautiful pastel colors across the reflective buildings. It was an awesome time to be in the city. If only I didn't have so short time of daylight left!
I watched ice skaters, listened to street musicians, even walked past several homeless people begging for money. One family from Indiana even asked me where the SouthShore trainstation was. I had no clue, but that would be the mode of transport the next time I hit Chicago at New Year's Eve as the city only charges a penny a ride from midnight to 6am to keep the drunks off the roads.
In fact, I saw no police until I hit Navy Pier. All I saw were taxis everywhere and people dressed in elegant evening wear: the women in short black dresses and heels and the men in tuxedos. And here I was in my white ski jacket and hiking boots!
The fact that I was alone never bothered me. I had nothing else to do since both of my own kids had plans with their own friends, Carol had a card party with her family and I wanted to take advantage of the one nice weather day. I did miss Kevin, though, but even he would have bawlked at the long walk. By the end of the day I was a stranger in a crowd anyway, wishing people around me a Happy New Year!
In fact, I saw no police until I hit Navy Pier. All I saw were taxis everywhere and people dressed in elegant evening wear: the women in short black dresses and heels and the men in tuxedos. And here I was in my white ski jacket and hiking boots!
The fact that I was alone never bothered me. I had nothing else to do since both of my own kids had plans with their own friends, Carol had a card party with her family and I wanted to take advantage of the one nice weather day. I did miss Kevin, though, but even he would have bawlked at the long walk. By the end of the day I was a stranger in a crowd anyway, wishing people around me a Happy New Year!
I made it to Navy Pier in just over an hour. The crowds weren't in full swing and there was open access to the pier. The controlled entry with cops every few feet didn't happen until I got back for a second walk three hours later, after staying in my van to read the story of John Kendrick. Purses and backpacks were checked. Open alcohol containers were authorized (that's standard at Navy Pier even on normal days). I had no bag, just a camera, and my wallet was safely tucked away in an inside jacket pocket.
It drizzled briefly at 10:30am and it was ten degrees colder now, with a predicted cold front hitting the city. Most fireworks gawkers stayed inside Navy Pier, slumped against the cold walls just waiting and idling time. I joined the crowd at 11pm, wanting to take a break from walking, and photographed moving feet.
When I went outside at 11:40pm and finally saw the fireworks at midnight, it was quite clear that whatever pyrotechniques the city had used in the past had been drastically cut back on. The show was short and unspectacular. I came all the way to Chicago for this? No, I came to experience the city and its people and finally left at 1:20am (it took me 55 minutes to walk back to my van) for Indiana. Carol was still sleeping in her recliner when I arrived at 2:30am. I was up until 4am downloading photos.
No comments:
Post a Comment