Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Chicago

Happy springtime in Chicago! Just back from an even happier springtime in the Exuma Islands. The Exumas are a mostly uninhabited chain of islands in the Bahamas. There isn't much to worry about there... apart from whether there will be any clouds on a given day or at what time of day is it appropriate for cocktails! On the latter, I did learn that no time is too early as evidenced by everyone walking around with a bottle of Guinness at any time of day or night. Talk about seeing things through rose colored lenses.

Ah, sunny Southern California in November. Sounds nice doesn’t it? In fact, it has been so sunny and warm that there have been about 8 days of record-breaking high temperatures over the last couple of weeks. Boy, it sure is going to be hard to come back to Chicago.

Since I’ve been unable to escape the city since I last wrote (yes, I do feel imprisoned at present) I’ll take this opportunity to write to you about an urban adventure. Kayaking on the north branch of the Chicago river. Urban but certainly not urbane!

It all began by my whining that I had not gotten my kayak out on the water yet this year and was itching (and that’s before I got near the river) to have a paddle. I had never been on the river and thought it might be an interesting perspective on the city. Stop laughing.

Mesmerizing. That is the word that comes to mind as I look out my window to the Pacific Ocean. Huge stone formations rising from the depths are causing the sea to do a work-around to make its way to shore. The rhythm of the waves and the kelp make me feel as if I am floating and I’m still sitting on shore!

It’s been a very long time since I’ve sat down to write to you. Not too many travel stories since then but let’s see if I can jog my memory about our travels down to lovely southern Illinois for the River to River race. I’d sum it up this way: 8 dykes in a van (VanDykes), 2 crazy men, Fleetwood Mac, and American Idol.