Chicago, August 6-8, 2004
I finally made it to Chicago ! We're staying at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Cityfront Center.
Thanks so much to my neighbor Jimmy.
It's just a little over 300 miles from Cincinnati. Great trip driving up. He let me drive his 2002 Saab 93 Viggen 5 speed Turbo James Bond mobile convertible. Incredible car. The only thing this lovely creature does not have is, a tire flattener launcher for those who cut you off. <g>
The weather here, as in Cincinnati has cooled down unseasonably for this time of year. Low 70's during the day, low 50's at night. Excellent for cruising with the top down. At one point, after the sun went down, it got rather cool. Jimmy turned on the heat. Next thing I know, my butt is getting unseasonably warm. Felt strange. Yup, heated seats. Who's nippy driving like that ? It was invigorating ! We stopped in a place called Demotte, Indiana to stretch and get a Red Bull and decided to put the top up. This car is so kewl. Click a button. You don't have to get out of the vehicle at all. Just latch it from the inside once it beeps. So off we cruise again. Hit traffic jam hell right as we hit the Chicago loop. We're totally jamming on Donna Summer tunes and decide since we're going so slow, how about putting the top back down. So we did. Don't have to get out of the car for that either. It was just too kewl. Strange having the heat on in August...
I saw the EL. Kewl. Tuna cans on rails. We plan to ride one tomorrow.
August 6, 2004
Got to see a beautiful sunset.
I asked Jimmy how fast he's ever driven his car and he said 110. I said, oh, I have to go 111. So I did. My goal is 120. I hope to do that on the way home. Speedometer goes to 160, which is awesome ! No lack of acceleration at all. And with turbo, punch it and go. Didn't make it to 120mph this trip. However, on the way back from Indianapolis on Oct. 17, I did make it to 125 !
The Loop and lots of bugs on the windshield.
The "EL". These are so kewl. They are so far ahead of their time for mass transit. I found them incredibly facinating. The views riding are second to none.
We stopped at a gas station to get a Red Bull and wash the bugs off the windshield. Saw this and did a double take.
Finally ! We arrived.
The price list. There were no vending machines, unfortunately. We stopped and got some munchies on the way.
It's a nice service actually, just very expensive. We brought a cooler for pop and avoided the expense.
August 7, 2004