Two days is a long time to sit still, even on a train. I had a tiny room to myself, but if I left this room, I had to keep a mask on, which made it harder to interact with people (even after two years of this!). So I spent most of my time reading or wasting bandwidth on my phone. By the time my train arrived in Chicago, I was tired and stiff, but also excited and nervous.
During the day, watching the landscape whiz by is mesmerizing. I especially love the gently rolling hills of Montana, and the sight of tiny towns made me wish I was on my bike, riding through them, and free to stop at any time.
When the train ride finally came to an end, I was so excited that my hands were shaking a little. I made my way out of the dark innards of Union Station and, after asking someone which way to go to get to the waterfront ( I couldn’t tell!), rode the 1.3 miles to my hotel near the official start. I was excited to have a 10th floor room, and when I saw it looked out at a busy stretch of the “El Train,” I was overjoyed. The El Train is probably a nuisance if you live near it, but it seems like a great symbol of 20th Century Chicago.
Tomorrow morning I will make my way one block to the official start of the tour, and I will be on my way!
I tried to be a good listener, but I couldn’t stop telling stories! They were very patient, and I enjoyed meeting them!
Shaun Rides His Bike 
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