3 weeks into the trip and we’ve learned a lot about each other. Here are some things we’ve noticed:
We thoroughly appreciate a warm bed and shower, a kind way of saying, we don’t love camping.
Ice cream is the ultimate bike food. As you’ve seen, we’ve eaten an absurd amount of it.
Maddie drinks a lot (of water😇), Charlie eats a lot.
Maddie sings incessantly and has a ton of lyrics memorized, Charlie likes to listen to Maddie’s performances.
Charlie often thinks of biking in basketball analogies. One bucket at a time, one mile at a time.
Once Maddie and Charlie reach 20 miles remaining for the day, they know they’ll make it through, regardless of the conditions.
Maddie has the most Hinge dating app success for finding places to stay. So basically, she’s cuter than Charlie.
Maddie’s account of Saturday:
After a relaxing morning drinking Uncle Joe’s iconic Dunkin’ run and chatting about life with family, it was time to take care of our bodies. I went to the chiropractor to potentially figure out my hands and neck tightness. I cracked so easily I feared my body would break in two; it seemed like every part of my body had pent up pressure. That afternoon, we got massages too. For me it was excruciating, but Charlie did not seem to recall much pain after his. However today, we both felt sore from the massages given that there was likely a ton of lactic acid built up in our bodies (I have no clue if this is biologically correct).
We were treated to incredible food throughout the whole weekend. We had lunch at Pierce’s Tavern, where I was filled up for the rest of the day following animal fries and brisket chili. Charlie devoured a brisket grilled cheese (grilled cheese or melt? the debate is still open). It was a beautiful day but incredibly windy (26 mph winds). A potential paper menu storm was on the forecast as every outdoor dining table lost napkins, menus, and cups left and right.
That evening, we headed into Chicago to stay with Amy and John. We took in the expansive sunset on their rooftop. My love for sunsets has been satisfied along this journey, I think the sky knows I’m watching. After the overwhelming sky, we went to Ramen Takeya. Given that yesterday was about 80 degrees, ramen may not have been the best dinner option especially when the restaurant felt like a sauna. We all shared some pillowy steamed buns and ramen.
The Loop was optimistic and lively late night, so we strolled around the neighborhood. Amy and John pointed out their favorite spots and recalled memories from their pre-covid days in the city. Charlie and I quickly fell asleep even with the L Train rattling the apartment.
Charlie’s account of Sunday:
I finally got to make some oatmeal this morning. Oatmeal is probably the dish I have made the most in my early chefhood, and I nearly have it down to a science. The key is to cook the oats in milk. Revolutionary, I know.
Amy and John led us out on a mini-tour of Chicago. We started with Stan’s Donuts for a post-breakfast breakfast. Our eyes lit up at the array of options, so we decided to split a half dozen. The lemon-pistachio old fashioned and the maple log were personal favorites. Can’t go wrong with maple-glazed donuts!
The Bean was just down the road, so of course we had to stop by. No trip to Chicago is complete without seeing The Bean. It was as bean-like as ever, but this time no one was allowed near it, in case someone gave it covid. It was a bit eerie to see it standing all by itself without people swarming around and underneath.
We took a scenic stroll parallel to Lake Michigan, then walked down Michigan Ave to get Garrett’s popcorn. I’m told that it is a classic Chicago treat; you can order popcorn with butter, cheese, caramel, or all of the above. Delicious, if popcorn’s your thing. It’s not mine, so I took a detour and visited Do-rite Donuts. Their fried chicken sandwich was incredible (bet you didn’t see that one coming. But its true, their classic fried chicken sandwich is very tasty) and the chocolate cake donut was the best of the day. I had a lot of donuts today.
It was a beautiful day, in the 80s, with a breeze. We returned to the apartment via the riverwalk, which was absolutely hopping. There was a brewery or winery or a place to eat around every bend; people were strewn all around the cramped patios, sitting at small tables or lounging on steps. The atmosphere of it all was fun and joyous, as if Chicago was doing its best to woo Maddie and me.
Back at Cindy and Joe’s house in Downers Grove, Maddie and I took some time to relax. But not too much time. We decided to go to a local park and get some shots up. The court was beautiful - nice rims and backboards, no cracks or bumps in the court, set against the backdrop of a lake, the sun falling gently on our backs. The only downside was the wind, which was strong. For the first time, when we said “must have been the wind” after an air ball, we weren’t kidding.
Dinner was a delicious medley of fish and vegetables: swordfish, tilapia, salmon, grilled peppers and zucchini and tomatoes and onions, oven-roasted squash, and sweet potatoes. I’m a sucker for a colorful plate, and this was the most colorful plate we’ve seen in a long time.
We concluded our evening with a trip to Every Day’s a Sundae. I ordered a large, opting for blackberry, key lime pie, turtle, and yellow cake batter. Not the most cohesive assortment of flavors, but they all tasted pretty darn good.
That about summarizes our food tour of the greater Chicago area. Major thanks to Cindy, Joe, Amy, and John for the incredible weekend. Back on road tomorrow, heading west across Illinois towards Iowa. Looking like a lot more flat ground, some rain, and plenty of adventure.