Day Three

Cumulative Miles: 1,120

Speeding Tickets; 0

Lesson learned: Do not try to put up or take down a tent wearing white shorts.

I've grokked a fun fact over the last three days. The sun rises later the further west you travel. Yes, I know the world is round so its logical that it would be this way, but I was surprised how traveling a few hundred miles really makes a big difference. The day I left Pennsylvania, the sun rose at 6:21 a.m. Yesterday in Ohio it rose at 6:44. Today in Michigan at 6:57. I'm now in Chicago, on Central Time, but if there weren't time zones to even things up, the sun would rise at 7:10 am. Funny that I was today years old when I finally really understood this.

Today was a day of stops and starts. Started out - had to stop to get gas. Got back on the road - stopped at Walmart to buy a backpack for day hikes and such. Stopped again for breakfast. Made it to Chicago by 12:30pm.

First stop there was the Art Institute of Chicago. I always wanted to go, but the one previous time in Chicago I just ran out of time. Its a great museum with an astounding collection of Impressionist art: Monet, Manet, Seurat, Cezanne, Cassatt....and the list goes on. After the museum, I had lunch and decided to walk the few blocks to the lake. It is so bloody hot here today, I thought I would melt, so I bagged that and came on to where I'm staying.

The pic below is of a lifetime travel map that I made a few years back. Robert made one too. I have more states to color in than he does. Technically I was in Utah once, because I visited the four corners where Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado all meet, but I don't think stepping five feet into a state for three minutes should really count. Now, however, I can add Michigan. I will undoubtably add some more before this trip is over.

Tomorrow, on to Wisconsin. Colleen, heading for Minnesota after that, so any hikes you recommend???