mikeShriver

Yesterday we purchased used bikes and we have spent the last few days cycling around the fictional city of Chicago. It’s great to be on a bike, I’ve got to get as much quality cycle time in as I can before the 5 week bicycle famine of South America.

The weather has been unseasonably warm here. The last few days and today made it up into the 60’s, perfect for leisurely two-wheel tours of the city. So far we have hit a few of the major tourist spots, and Today we took the yellow line out to Skokee to check out a violin making school that Joe is interested in attending.

Cornelius’ sister lives in an apartment int he shadow of Wrigley field, directly on the Brown line. L trains roll directly past the windows all night long, casting every shifting geometric shapes on the plaster walls. It’s like something of a great American working-man’s play.

St. Patty’s day was relatively mild. We did get some green beer, but the expected partying never materializes as the major celebrations this city is famous for happened last weekend, just before my arrival here. The streets in this area contain a large number of Irish bars, though, and the streets at night have been pretty rowdy. Usually this happens after we have turned into bed, and is mostly drowned out by the trains.

Tags: South America, Travel Journal.

I’m extremely excited about the most recent accessories I have purchased for my bike, a set of panniers. These beauties were handmade by a front-room operation here in Seattle called Swift Industries. I first came across these when I was looking for patterns to make some Panniers for myself, and I have been jonesin’ after them for quite some time now. Thanks to some saved up Christmas gift money, I was finally able to put in an order. Since they are hand-made to order, it took about three weeks for me to get them, and it was completely worth the wait.

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Tags: Cycling, fuji superia 200, Panniers, Photography, ST-801, Swift Industries.