As I mentioned in an earlier issue, every once and a while we need to stop and do land stuff. Hammond had an opening for us and the rate was reasonable. We signed up for fifteen days. This would be home base while we went to Sacramento to visit Duncan, Lisa and grandson Ethan.

Hammond Marina is large and well equipped. A stout breakwater protects against the waves on Lake Michigan. It does not afford protection against the winds which were strong and incessant for the first five days. There were four TMCA Boats, including us, so there was company for Happy Hour, meals out at the nearby Casino and, most of all, planning sessions on where to stop along the long journey to the Gulf Coast. We were left behind on Sept. 6, Dos Amigos and Mañana headed South for Peoria and beyond, while Fine Time went off to Chicago for a visit with family.
 
 
 

Chicago Touring Our new friends, Jim and Diane Ellsworth of Bankers Hours, picked us up for a day of sight seeing in the Windy City.  It was a real treat. First we walked around the downtown to work up an appetite. Lunch was at the Billy Goat Tavern. It's a famous place located downstairs from street level. It's across from the Chicago Tribune and near city hall.  It is a favorite place for reporters and politicos to meet over lunch.

"And what," I asked the Middle Eastern counter man, "do you recommend for lunch?" "Double Cheeseburger," was his instant reply. "I'll have that with a beer," I said. "No beer here," he shot back and pointed to the bar, "get it over there. You want chips?" "Nope," I said. "Double Cheese," he shouted then, "Next". The cook answered "One Double Cheese," as he tossed two patties on the large hot fry grill.

Marion said, "Just a single cheeseburger, please." "No lady, you get a double cheeseburger," he corrected her, "It's better." "OK, Double" she said picking up the rapid pace. The other counter helper was busy filling cups with Coke and Diet Coke. There were about a dozen cups filled and ready to go. "Double Cheese," he shouted then, "You want Coke or Diet?"  The cook answered "Two Double Cheese" as two more patties were started. "I will just have ice water, please", she said. "No water!!!  Coke or Diet?" he answered.

"Got Sprite?" she asked.

He replied somewhat hesitantly, "OK Sprite". It was clear from his tone that he did not recommend Sprite with the Double Cheeseburger and would not be held responsible for her lunch.

"Make sure you try the pickles on the burgers. They are the best."

All four of us had the double cheeseburgers. The guys had beer, and the ladies soft drinks.
 

After lunch I wandered about the tavern studying all of the memorabilia. The tavern was started in 1934. There was a real Billy Goat that the owner took with him to the ball games as a mascot. The walls were full of newspaper clippings and photographs of the famous who had visited the tavern. It's a great and fun place for lunch.  Rating $** Atmosphere ***** Next on our magical mystery tour, we boarded Marvelous Marvin's Sightseeing Trolley. Marvin narrated, drove the trolley, lead the songs and cheering for his crowd.  Over the course of his 1.5 hour tour we drove by most of the attractions in downtown Chicago. Trolley rides are high on our list of things to do and we have done them in many of our stopover cities.  Marvelous Marvin takes the prize for personality. Look for comprehensive trolley ride comparisons at the end of our Loop Trip.

It was a Tuesday and the Chicago Art Museum has free admission on Tuesdays. We had time for a few hours before supper so we did a small portion of this great museum. We started with the French Impressionists and worked forward to the Contemporaries.  By the end of the visit we all were getting a bit silly.  Some of the "art" is a bit outrageous. Here is my Alfred Hitchcock pose in a plain frame with wire rod protruding.

Here is Diane Elseworth in rapture over a white stripe on black background. Now you can understand why Contemporary Art leaves some bewildered. After the museum we four were off to have Happy Hour and supper with Don and Ann Thomson, AnnTicipation . They had their boat at DuSable Marina in Downtown Chicago.

The Award for Bravery
 

In commemoration of our last time together, (you may recall that was in Killarney,) the Elsworths and Thomsons had prepared a special certificate and presented a small black bear figure. At Killarney they had sent the rescue teams out looking for us. That's when we fled the bears and got lost on George Island. We were found at dusk along the shore.   Don maintains the Royal Canadian Mounties were just waiting for nightfall before sending helicopters, equipped with heat seeking surveillance equipment, to find us. Thanks, Thomsons and Elsworths, we did survive. We will cherish the bear... He seems quite friendly.

California Side Trip

We went to California to see grandson, Ethan. He is 20 months old. Counts to ten. Climbs not only out of BUT ALSO INTO: Strollers, High Chairs, Car Seats, Cribs and anything with handholds and places for his feet. Sings Old Mac Donald had a farm and other arias.

Of course we got to see his parents too.

Most of the time we sat around and did absolutely nothing.

I took so many pictures on my new digital camera that I spent hours doing major house cleaning on my PC hard drive to store them all.

This one is the best.

It made the trip worth while.