Trip to Kokomo, Chicago/Wheaton, Wisconsin
Summer 2015
On Thursday July 30th, Jodi and I flew into
Chicago and immediately went to Russell's BBQ, my dad's favorite place, near
where he grew up in River Forest. We spent the night in Wheaton with Uncle Howie and
Kathy Smith. Fri morning we ran in Wheaton, going on the Prairie Path and the
Wheaton College track. After breakfast with Uncle Howie and Kathy, we headed to
Kokomo, IN. where we went to Kokomo Jackrabbit baseball game with John, Judy
and Morgan and John, Jenni and Zach. Saturday morning we had a fun breakfast at
Cracker Barrel. Sat evening we went to a concert in local park and band shell
Sunday morning we ran on a super running/biking path that
goes for at least 20 miles along Indiana corn fields and shade-providing trees.
We were concerned about heat and humidity, but it was relatively cool the whole
trip staying in 70s and low 80s with low humidity. I was able to get in 18 with
Jodi running the last 10 with me.
We spent Monday afternoon in Chicago after leaving Kokomo.
We started with deep dish pizza at Ginos and then walked around the area on
Michigan Ave and the Water Tower, going to Nike, Under Armor, and other stores.
Then we out to Navy Pier to see their shops and views. Cute to see tributes to
longtime Cub announcer, Harry Cary, famous for his call of "holy
cow". You can see the cow with holes and Harry and his oversized glasses
in the pics.
On Thursday morning we ran some intervals on the Wheaton
college track; amazingly cool and not humid. Then we visited Mary Whelchel of
the Christian Working Woman ministry, and she and Jodi got to meet. We then set
out for Wisconsin with the first stop being the Kopps frozen custard restaurant
in Milwaukee. Frozen custard is even better than ice cream, and we had a gift
certificate from Ken Anderson who gave it to us as a wedding gift to entice us
to Milwaukee…it worked!
We arrived at Camp Awana and had fun paddle boating and
swimming in the lake and touring the great facility with Dar and JB. We enjoyed
shooting baskets (where I could show Jodi just how far out those 3s are that
Steph and Klay were pouring in this season for the World Champion Warriors! Love saying that!!) We also played
miniature golf where Jodi beat me with some stellar putting.
Wednesday, August 5th was my birthday and we
started at Camp Awana and then headed to Colgate, WI to visit Ken and Pam
Anderson. Ken was a classmate at Westmont; we've been friends for over 45 years
and have loved cheering our sports' teams and rooting against each other’s. He
and Pam took us to lunch at the Brewer's ball park where we saw Hank Aaron
statue and other famous Brewer players’ plaques. We also got our 2nd visit to
Kopps; so yummy! Then we had a fabulous birthday dinner at the Copper Duck
where I had the most amazing steak and Jodi had crab legs. So, a very fun 65th
birthday and exciting way to enter my new age group! On the way back to
Wheaton, we stopped in Glen Ellyn so I could show Jodi Uncle Dick’s Four
Seasons’ motel where I worked during my college summers.
Friday morning we took a gangster bus tour of Chicago
seeing where John Dillenger was shot, hearing stories of Al Capone and
bootlegging, and seeing Frank Niti’s hangout which is now a Harry Cary restaurant.
We had lunch at the top of the John
Hancock with its amazing views of the city. In the afternoon we went to Millennium
Park and its “Bean” which creates all kinds of mirror images. We got to visit
the Art Institute seeing some famous paintings particularly Impressionist ones.
Then we took a boat tour on the Chicago River and Lake Michigan highlighting
Chicago's architecture. We finished at Dick's Last Resort Restaurant where they
intentionally insult you and make rude comments. Fun way to end our Chicago
day.
Saturday was Game Day: Yes, we were going to see the Cubs
at Wrigley as a birthday gift from Jodi and it just so happened that the Giants
were in town. John, Judy and Morgan had come up from Kokomo to join us at Uncle
Howie’s for the weekend. After breakfast with Uncle Howie we went into Chicago
to tour a bit on Michigan Ave, the Bean, and Navy Pier. We then took the “L” to
the game. Great to see Wrigley with a lot of the remodeling including 2 new
scoreboards having been done. Sad that Giants lost 8-6, but great to be in the “Friendly
Confines” once again. We ended up getting deep-dish pizza at Gino’s again; this
time at their outlet in Wheaton. Great way to finish off a long day!
Sunday morning, August 9th, was our 1st
anniversary! Jodi had found a race in Chicago at which to celebrate our
running-themed wedding. We got up early (5:30) and drove in for the Chicago 10K
in Grant Park. The course ran along Lakeshore Drive going past Soldier Field
and Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium. It was 88% humidity and 77 degrees, but we
ran strong, enjoying the sights. Mary Whelchel’s son-in-law whom we had met at
her office earlier in the week was the announcer, and he told the runners about
our getting engaged at the Boston Marathon and this being our anniversary. When
we saw the results on Monday, we saw that Jodi was 2nd of 76 in her
age group and I was 1st in my new age group.
We went back to Wheaton to clean-up and have breakfast
with the others. Then we went back to Chicago to check-out Maxwell St. flea
market. After saying goodbye later in the day to John, Judy and Morgan, we went
to dinner with Uncle Howie who treated us to an anniversary dinner at Red
Lobster. Great way to finish off an eventful Midwest, birthday and anniversary
trip!
