Route 66 - where the fun begins... After collecting the car we headed off in the wrong direction (!) - it wasn't the only time today - Imogen has been promoted to navigator. With our "roadtrip" music playing, Joliet was our first stop and we spent a few bucks in the Route 66 Welcome Centre. Wilmington came next where we met a couple who had just married in Central Park and were travelling Route 66 for their honeymoon. Driving through Braidwood, Gardner, Dwight...

We started early and headed downtown on the transit. We had bikes booked for the day and Imogen was overjoyed to find that me and her were riding a tandem. We cycled north along the Lakeside Trail taking in wonderful scenery including the fabulous skyline and beautiful lakeside beaches where Imogen had a paddle. We visited the free Lincoln Zoo in Lincoln Park where a polar bear posed quite gracefully for us. We then locked up the bikes and walked along Navy Pier...

Sadly, we've left New York - everything about it was great and we will return. On a happier note we've arrived in Chicago after a two hour delay. Nick is happier now that he's got a gym so he's been on the running machine while Imogen and I decided which pizza we would have for tea! As we've only a day here, a full day is planned for tomorrow - watch this space...

We surprised Imogen with a bit of a thrill on The Beast - a very fast, powerful speed boat which bounces and throws you around as if on a roller-coaster. She didn't stop laughing for the whole half an hour and the hair was a picture as you can see. Fun fun fun!!!

After the rain yesterday, today the sun was back with a vengeance. First today was walking the High Line - the old freight line which, instead of ripping it down, the New Yorkers turned it into a wonderful walkway above the city. There's shallow water for paddling, beautiful plants and colourful flowers along with lovely seating areas and random architecture. We were meant to do this yesterday but ran out of time and we were so glad we decided to change our plan...