Today we are up bright and early for a walk to the beach. The hotel is 1 mile from the beach. It is once again a beautiful day, not so hot as yet and no sign of last nights storm. We are not the only ones walking along the lakefront . It's a public holiday so there are walkers, joggers, cyclists and swimmers all enjoying possibly the last of the summer weather. It's hard to believe that in a few months it will be snowing here. We stop for breakfast at a lovely cafe on Wacker Drive which is on the Chicago River. We pack up our gear, store our luggage at the hotel and head off to do an architectural river tour. Sounds stuffy but was actually very interesting cruising along the 3 arms of the river between the skyscrapers and hearing about the recovery from the great fire and the redesign and reuse of the warehouses on the river. Navy Pier is like an amusement park on the lake but it also has restaurants and shopping. This is where we have lunch today in Harry Carays, a sports bar where there is every sporting event currently happening in America on a big screen. It's our intention to get the 3.30 west side trolley tour but before that we need to get our photo at the Beginning of Route 66. We pick up our RV tomorrow about 2 hours out of downtown and we have no intention of driving back into the city for the photo. As we walk to Adams Street we pass through Millennium Park and see cloud gate or 'the bean' as the locals call it. It's a huge stainless steel bean shaped object all in the name of art . We are not the only people at the Route 66 sign. There is a large group of Mexicans ( real ones ....not Victorians ) all doing the same thing. They will be riding Harley's so I guess we will see them along the way somewhere . After coffee we head for the tour which is not a must do but did give us a look at the areas outside the city limits. Tonight the boys go to Midland Airport to enjoy their helicopter ride over the city which is their Father's Day present from the kids . Liz and I , with the assistance and entertainment of the hotel staff load up our luggage and get our Chauffeur driven SUV to the Hilton at O'Hare. We change hotels because the RV company will pick us up from this hotel and deliver us to our RV in the morning. The boys arrive back at around 8.30pm and have thoroughly enjoyed their trip. The photos tell the story. We are on the 9th floor of the Hilton looking towards the runways ... Fantastic view and no noise. Baileys, beer, ouzo and bed.