From Alcatraz to Chicago

An American mug shot!

From the sun and warmth of California to the chill of Michigan and Illinois. Michigan doesn't half get cold in the winter and this was only the beginning of November. We wrapped up well and made it to the Livonia parkrun in the suburbs of Detroit - this was the very first parkrun to be launched in North America as long ago as June 2012. Here's us pictured with another tourist from the UK, John B from Essex (who was here on business - the motor industry of course!) There were a surprising number of junior runners seeing as we saw hardly any youngsters at the San Francisco event. I was overtaken on the home straight by a young lad who'd actually called me back onto the right path just before the end. I came 8th in 23:02 and Vicky was 47th in 36:35.

Ticket inspectors - you've got to hand it to them!

The following day we had to make our way 280 miles from Detroit to Chicago. Rather than take the plane we decided to go by rail seeing as we weren't in a hurry. We hopped into a cab down to Ann Arbor half an a hour away - this was the scene of yesterday's latest US parkrun. They're up to 26 now, six of these being in the Washington/Baltimore area - it's spreading! The station in Ann Arbor was packed with travellers waiting for trains in both directions - there are only a few trains a day through here - which one would come first? The train from Chicago was delayed by over an hour but our's was just about bang on time! Hooray! And what a nice relaxing way to travel. We were at the back of the train so the sounding of the distinctive loud Amtrak horn for each road crossing wasn't too distracting.

Fire and brimstone!

Once in Chicago we quickly found an excellent watering hole, this being the Haymarket Brewing Company which is located in Haymarket Square scene of an infamous riot in 1886. Workers protesting against the killing of rioters on the previous day were demonstrating and a bomb was thrown killing seven policemen plus a number of bystanders. The publicity that surrounded the incident and the subsequent trial of persons suspected of involvement in the bombing did a lot to raise the profile of trade unions in the US. Gosh what violence - and this was well before Al Capone came along.
Chicago is a more peaceful place nowadays and the Haymarket brewery tap is a most relaxing place to sit and sip. Not only was the beer some of the best we'd had since being away from home it was reasonably priced so it went down very well!