What a View!

At the risk of sounding like an episode of Dragnet... the next few entries will be little more than "Just the facts." Consider it a concerted effort to finally catch up with the entries on the website.

One of the best things about being in Chicago was spending three weeks in one place with Chika and her folks. I was really well looked after and felt very much at home - so a HUGE thanks to Chika and her Mum & Dad. It had been quite a while since I'd eaten so well. During the bike trip I was living on far too much fast food as there weren't too many other good options around. So the vast amounts of Sushi and other fresh foods all did me a lot of good. I'm trying hard not to undo all that good work!

Thanks to Chika, I had a locals view of things in Chicago. Cruising the neighbourhoods as well as all the tourist 'must do' activities: The STUNNING view from the 96th floor of the John Hancock Building, a visit to the Billy Goat Tavern for a few beers, Chicago style pizza at Lou Malnatis (superb - not all pizzas are equal!), a successful visit to an ice hockey game and getting ripped-off trying to buy tickets outside a basketball game, a fantastic Foo Fighters gig and meeting lots of new friends. In short, having a GREAT time.

I was quite sad to be leaving Chika behind as I finally left Chicago on a flight bound for Seattle. But, we will be meeting up again at the end of March in L.A. and from there heading onwards together back to South America and Ecuador.