Chi-town Chicas
July 8-14, 2019
All packed up from our days at Lake Lakengren, Halyn and I turn south just a bit for a relatively short drive into Cincinnati, Ohio. I have friends, who I met in the Florida panhandle a little more than a year ago. Deb and Randall are van-lifers who parked next to me at Indian Pass . We stayed connected online and they came to visit us while they toured around Florida last winter. I promised to drop in when I got up their way. Unfortunately, just an overnight, but Randall is already for us to hook in to his 30amp upon arrival. I definitely have not given us any time for a proper tour of Cinnci, but time to visit and check out a few areas. Deb is taking us to yoga in the park. Ault Park is the fourth-largest park in Cincinnati. It lies in the Mount Lookout neighborhood on the city's east side. The hilltop park has an overlook which commands extensive panoramic views of the Little Miami River valley. Halyn gets ice cream at Graeter's. Since 1870 Graeter’s has been producing small batch French Pot ice cream. This place is uniquely Cincinnati.
Can you see the bee?
I have been so proud of Halyn and her interaction with adults. She engages in adult conversation and is naturally inquisitive. Halyn loves hearing about Randall and Deborah's world travels and loves the art in their home. We are treated to a fabulous dinner at a local establishment and enjoy lingering conversation out on their patio before we retire for the night.
Halyn and Randall hit it off right away!
In the morning, there's time for yogurt and coffee together before we head off for our 3.5 hour drive to Lafayette, Indiana.
Prophetstown State Park is a good enough distance so we don't have to do the more than 5 hours of road time it would take to get to Chicago. Besides it has an aquatic center with tube slides, splash pad and lazy river and promises a good way to spend a 90º afternoon.
This place is rich with history. Prophetstown State Park commemorates a Native American village founded in 1808 by Tecumseh and his brother Tenskwatawa north of present-day Lafayette, Indiana, which grew into a large, multi-tribal community.
It's so hot outside that we turn on the air in the van, use the wifi and wait on an impending rainstorm to cool things off. By nine pm we are able to open up and sleep to the sound of crickets
In the morning, we empty tanks and set off for the big city. I have promised myself I would skirt around the tollways, but coming up from Indiana there's no way to really avoid them and the truck traffic is purely awful Sitka was my comfort when we made these trips. This time Halyn, strokes my arm and helps with breathing exercises to abate the creeping anxiety. So many drivers doing so many stupid things including big rigs cutting in and out like they are little race cars. Last time I am doing Chicago roads... I swear.
Halyn is most looking forward to arriving back in Chicago and sleeping inside her great grandmother's house. I think she is nearly done with camping. It's been decided that her aunts, Margie and Suzi with her cousins will spend the day doing a walking tour of Grant Park often referred to as Chicago's front yard. This summer has been hot, but maybe it's just short of a miracle that we have cloudless skies and perfect 80º day to play.
Halyn has never ridden an elevated train or subway. We emerge from the underground in the heart of the loop and walk out to the waterfront. She is a bit in awe. She needs to return so we can spend a proper amount of time going to museums, the Art Institute and take Chicago River architectural tour. But this day couldn't be more perfect with live jazz bands playing and broadway tunes wafting on the breeze from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. She is excited to see the Cloud Gate sculpture by Indian-born British artist Sir Anish Kapoor. It is more affectionately referred to as The Bean because of its shape, a name Kapoor initially disliked, but later grew fond of. Made up of 168 stainless steel plates welded together, its highly polished exterior has no visible seams. Everyone comes to take a photo of their reflection.
Grant Park plays host to some the city's largest food and music festivals, including The Taste of Chicago which is happening as we arrive.
Taste of Chicago
It's entirely too much to cover in one afternoon. We do manage to stroll through Chicago River district and I get to show her my favorite buildings- Marina Towers and the Wrigley building. We end the day back on the north side at a park right outside Suzi's place for more jazz music to end the night.
I think if I asked Halyn today, if she wants to head down to Chicago She'd jump at the chance. We really do need to dig into all the museums. Alas, we do have to start her journey home. She has a peer leadership camp to attend. We will return.
Onward,
Catherine and Halyn