Last day in Chicago. Last night there were lots of demonstrations against the police so we were glad not to have stayed out late. 

Today we returned to Lou Mitchell’s for breakfast and sat at the counter – felt very local. It’s a great place – you get free pastries when you arrive, free fruit before your breakfast and ice cream afterwards! Then wandered along the Magnificent Mile and around  fair. Watched a man do some glass blowing and bought a beautiful paperweight. By then we needed a beer so stopped and did some people watching. After that we had another beer plus some watermelon with feta and some nachos with dips sitting in Millenium Park. When I went to the loo Paul joined an engagement party for a young couple – think we’ll be invited to the wedding!

It was then time to get a taxi to Union Station. Traffic was very bad and there were cops everywhere – presumably in case of more demos.

Another perfect day weather wise. After a face time conversation with Billy and Dean (at least I got a few cow kisses from Billy and he was impressed to hear that we’d spent 3 days on a train), we walked down to the river and an architectural cruise. It was very interesting and informative – the guide never stopped for ninety minutes with fact after fact about each building. Well worth the money. After all that learning we decided it must be “beer o’clock” and so made our way back to Navy Pier and another Oberon (seats in the shade thank goodness). 

We then caught the hop-on-hop-off bus back to the Willis building and walked down to Giardanos for some deep dish pizza. The guide had recommended it and she was right – it was delicious. Much different to any we get in England. We then caught the El (the elevated train) and went round the loop. Looked very run down but was very convenient and certainly stopped you getting caught in the traffic below. After the pizza we felt it was time for dessert and, as there is a Ghiradelli’s here, we felt we should go and make sure this outlet was as good as the original – you’ll be pleased to know it was. 

While eating our sundaes we watched a demonstration go passed against the police brutality against blacks. Large numbers of police accompanying it, cycling walking or on segways! The Chicago Police definitely have some novel ways of getting around! Walking back to the hotel there were literally hundreds of police around – standing on every street corner and in unmarked police cars. No idea why!

Our first full day in Chicago and it really started off well . Decided to get a cab to Lou Mitchell’s for breakfast. Interesting ride. He hadn’t got a clue where it was and we had to give him the exact address. Then he wanted to turn right but there was a gut who was directing the traffic (like one of our traffic wardens) in the way. They traded rather graphic insults with the traffic guy saying he was going to report the taxi driver and the taxi driver calling him a f****** black *****. Hen the taxi driver went straight across a zebra crossing and nearly drove over a Priam! Good start to the day. Great breakfast though – free cake sample on way in and free ice cream at the end!

Then went up the Willis Tower – took more than 3 hours but definitely something which needs to be done. Also something which has to be done is the hop on hop off tour. This time much better than Seattle and more factual than San Francisco. Very hot up on top – definitely no sign of the thunder storms which we’d been promised by the Weather Channel.

Lured to the Navy Pier by the promise of a beer  – very welcome and so good,that we decided to eat there too. Served by an Irish girl – apparently there are 50 Irish students working there. She was a student nurse and there for a few weeks and then going to San Francisco. Great way to spend her last summer before starting work.

Was going to walk back to the hotel but still too,hot so got a taxi. The traffic here is dreadful.

Sorry to be off-line for three days but no wi-fi on the train!

What a wonderful experience otherwise. Got the hang of sleeping on the train so wasn’t quite so tired,thank goodness. How on earth can you get tired from sitting down all day watching scenery go by or eating? Anyway, the scenery was spectacular, just like a film set! As there was only the two of us we had to share our dining table with different people at mealtimes. We met some really interesting people – it was especially interesting to learn their views on Brexit and Donald Trump. The first night we shared with a lovely couple from near Los Angeles and from then on spent quite a bit of time with them.

The food was quite good although I did find eating some of it a little difficult to eat using the plastic cutlery we were given. Paul, of course, got an invite into the kitchen where he found out that they served around 2000 meals over the three day journey and that the dishwasher was broken which was the reason for the plastic cutlery and plates.

We started the journey along the coast before heading inland at Sacramento. From there on it got to be more scrub where I saw plent of hares running around. During the night we stopped in Salt Lake City (I didn’t wake) and in the morning it was more barren and Paul had seen prairie dogs and antelopes. That day the scenery was incredible with towering mountains of rock, Eagles and then reaching an altitude of 10,000 ft above sea level and beginning to descend through lots of tunnels and following the Colorado River where there must of been hundreds of people rafting. In some places it looked just like The River Wild! Eventually we saw Denver hundreds of feet below.

Overnight we went through Omaha and were held up for two hours because of an electrical storm. I didn’t hear a thing! This morning we woke to very familiar scenery – could have been England! I was very surprised that we went over the Mississippi River – very ignorant but didn’t realise it came so far north!

We eventually arrived in Chicago three hours late, had to wait another half an hour for our luggage and then got a taxi to our very swish hotel which is on South Michigan Avenue and just across from a Grant Park. Now had a snack and are off to bed – a very welcome king sized bed. Will post pics tomorrow as the iPad needs charging.

After a good night’s sleep felt ready for another day of sightseeing. Started off by wandering from the Bart and along the waterfront. We had breakfast at Boudin – a lovely sourdough with a cup of tea. Great to have something plain. We then walked up to the Powell/Hyde turnaround and waited for a cable car. Freezing but at least I was dressed for it today! The wait was worth it – a thrilling ride. Got the car back and walked up the crookedest street in the world (allegedly). Worth the climb. We then had to go to Ghirardelli Square for an ice cream as their’s was the recipe I used for the chocolate ice cream for Rebecca’s. Yum! Thought we’d better walk it off a little but stopped off to do a harbour cruise. Again, very cold but definitely worth it. Finished up with some clam chowder in a bread bowl and then back to the Bart against all the traffic (pedestrian and otherwise) as there were more fireworks tonight.

Didn’t see many animals today (dogs, sealions and Pelicans) but was horrified by a young lad who had two very young puppies in his arms and was offering to sell them to tourists waiting in a queue for the cable cars!

An interesting experience, sleeping on a train. The two seats are made into two bunk beds. Paul had the bottom be and I took the top. Interesting trying to climb onto it until you get the hang of it and then it’s very narrow – I felt as if the ceiling was closing in on me and as if I was about to fall out of it! However, after a little while I began to relax and did manage to get some sleep. I’m hoping that on the next section of the journey I’ll sleep better.

Got to San Francisco about an hour late – apparently not unusual as they keep having to wait for freight trains. Got taxi to the hotel where we left our luggage, and then found our way to a BART station and made our way into the city. Spent most of the day on tour buses with a really good  (and funny) guide. Unfortunately it was very breezy and, although the sun was out most of the time, we were cold. Still it did mean we went in for a burger to somewhere which served Shocktop beer!

As it’s 3rd July there are fireworks tonight along the harbour and so the number of people about and the traffic as we left was incredible. Really couldn’t face hanging around in the crowds and the cold to see them.

Now back at the hotel and Paul’s gone to put a wash through at the local launderette while I sort myself out.

Off on the train today so up early and in taxi by 8.30am to King Street Station. Check in was just like an airline. Been on train now for nine and a half hours and we’re really loving it. We have our own roomette which has two seats in and which makes down into two beds. Haven’t spent much time in there so far but have been in the Parlour Car where there are large armchairs which swivel so you can see all around. We’ve had two meals in here and done some wine tasting. Things are very organised and you definitely only go for your meal when you’re old and only sit in the correct seats!

It’s great to see all these places where tourists don’t usually go. So far we’ve been through Washington and are now going through Oregon. We should be getting to San Francisco about 8.30am and so will need to be up early so we can get some breakfast down us. Hoping that the hotel will let us leave our bags there early so we can go into San Francisco for the day.

The wi fi is slow to non-existent and so will not try to post any photos today but will wait till we’re in the hotel.

Didn’t see a great deal of wildlife, just a few deer, a couple of Eagles, and a llama. Oh yes, and also saw an osprey nest – or Oswestry nest as Paul reckons that the experts call it!