Then again, everything seems amazing after riding through Gary, Indiana. I have never been through a town that was teetering on the brink of abandonment. It was disheartening to see people struggling to live around broken streets, dilapidated homes, and abandoned buildings. I experienced a true paradigm shift cycling along 12 W. Some people really do have so much and others so little. But, I had never thought of this on a community level. You figure that within each community there are those that have more than others; in Gary, I'm not sure anyone has anything. It's a sad truth and a testament to some of the struggles that we face as a species. (Gary is also an example of the complex relations between economics, politics, race and so many other variables that I'm not even going to bring up here.)
With that said, back to Chicago:
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| The ride into Chicago--what a motivating sight when you still have more miles to go! |
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| Entering the city through South Chicago. |
For tonight and tomorrow we're staying at the University of Illinois at Chicago in suite style dorms. THIS IS LIKE A FIVE STAR HOTEL FOR US (I cannot stress this enough). We have our own rooms, private bathrooms, air-conditioning, private showers, laundry, internet, and--the best yet--PILLOWS! I have not slept on a proper pillow since May! Seriously, it's the little things that matter on this trip.
Tonight I walked around Chicago in the pouring rain. It was against my better judgement, since I would usually be the kind of person to dodge raindrops and open umbrellas. I don't regret it one bit--it was the best way to see Chicago.
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| Beautiful Chicago skyline one rainy night. |
I'm excited to explore more of the city tomorrow. I have a few goals, one of which is to finally eat a deep dish pizza from Chicago!
Sweet Dreams from the Windy City,
James
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Today's ride, which was long and filled with headwinds and heat but not as difficult as expected, was dedicated to my little sisters, Avalon and Meridian. I hope that by the time they are my age cancer won't be nearly as serious of a diagnosis as it is today.
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