Tuesday Sept 20 - Chicago to Holland

After a very good breakfast at the hotel, we drove about half an hour back to downtown Chicago, where we met our "step on guide" Mike McMains. He was excellent! For the next two hours he took us on driving tour of downtown, starting in Chinatown, along Grant Park, past the Field Museum, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium for a great view of the skyline. There are some fantastical high rises, with interesting histories and famous architects. A favorite stop was "The Bean" and theater at Millenium Park. Can you believe they polish the Bean every day?

Our tour guide, Allen, is a hoot! Poor guy, he broke his leg a few days ago, so he's on crutches. He has guided the DL Evans groups no less than five times over the years, so he knows many of the old ladies really well. They love him! He is well prepared and always in control of our schedule. He is very funny but, so far, we haven't gotten sick of his silly jokes!

For lunch today, in downtown Chicago, we went to the famous Portello's - an interesting fast food place that features a famous hot dog.

After lunch we continued north, along the east side of Lake Michigan on to Saugatuck and the "Saugatuck Dune Rides". What a treat! It felt like a Disney ride - speeding around trails on the Dunes. Interesting reclamation story here. The Dunes has once been hardwood forest but the lumbermen had clear cut it in the mid 1800s and the sand took over. After experimenting with different grasses, folks from the University of Michigan embarked on a project to plant grasses (which were shipped in from Florida) all over the dunes to stabilize them. It worked! The dunes are now covered with these grasses and no longer "move", threatening some structures.

The weather today was great - in the lower 80's, with a slight thunderstorm shower late in the afternoon. Its supposed to get markedly cooler starting tomorrow, as we continue north to Mackinaw City. Tonight we stay at a Fairfield Inn in Holland. Fine dinner at an event place overlooking Lake Macatawa called "BoatWerks".