The storms continued this morning… luckily, on the other side of the lake!
So the sunrise was very striking… lots of clouds, lots of colors, lots of LIGHTNING!!!

As I continued south, the sky lightened up a bit… and the sky turned a beautiful
shade of blue with very dramatic clouds blowing through. And I especially love how
you can see the rain actually falling across the lake.

So there I was, pedaling south… cruising around the corners, watching the “sky show”
all around me. There was a lot of debris on the path from last night’s hail storm. Lots of
leaves, twigs, branches and TREES!!! Yep… there were trees down covering the bike path!

And then… after all of the “obstacles”… the sky continued to get lighter…
but the lightning continued all around. Making this morning a very cool bike ride!

And very “STRIKING.”

As I turned around and started back from Burnham Harbor, I made the bend,
went under the bridge at Solidarity Drive and the Shedd Aquarium was all aglow
with the sunrise reflecting in their windows. Beautiful…

Knowing that I will be returning to the Zoo in just a few hours,
I stopped by anyway for a quick preview. Then home for a quick shower
and off to camp… onto the bus & back to the zoo with my summer campers!

Generally my morning ride keeps me on the North side of the city.
But today, I got to go further south… all the way down to Northerly Island.
Which I realized ironically that Northerly Island is South of the city?!!!
Even if the name doesn’t make sense… at least the view was incredible!

Heading south, I made it through the city and stopped off at Monroe Harbor
as the sun was just cresting the horizon. It was stunning. So quiet. So beautiful.
So glad I got up a little earlier and go to pedal further down the lakefront.

It was a very strange morning along the Chicago lakefront today!
Dark. Foggy. Misty. Hard to see just two feet in front of you!
If you look closely… you “might” be able to see the North Avenue Beach House
just past the row of street lights! I swear it was right there… I swear!!!

And then when I turned around to head home…
it looked as though there was a hurricane blowing in off the lake?!
Is that even possible in Chicago??? Seriously?… it was crazy!!!

So the weather seemed to take a turn for the better today. A little cold & cloudy
in the morning, but the afternoon became sunny and a tad warmer. So I couldn’t
resist… as I head out for a wonderful afternoon bike ride along the lakefront.

And the forsythia were still in bloom – adding a sparkle of yellow along the way!
I love how the Spring colors change from week to week. Different flowers seem to appear
out of nowhere… making the lakefront a never-ending natural palette.

So it was a beautiful ride… and now I seem to have a little sunburn as a little souvenir.
Err… maybe that’s more windburn than sunburn?!

Like I said… when I turned the corner in Millennium Park, kinda close to the Art Institute…
I turned and noticed that another major harbinger of Spring was right there in front of me.
The Buckingham Fountain had been turned on!

This elaborate fountain is possibly the most recognizable landmark in Chicago.
All Winter, the fountain is closed down, boarded up and packed away for the season.
Each Spring, it’s an exciting event when the fountain returns… as Spring is here!!!
And for those of you who may not have ever been to Chicago, but did watch the TV classic
“Married With Children”… well, then you’ve already seen it there too!

And here’s you quick history lesson…
Buckingham Fountain sits in the center of Grant Park and is the most significant feature.
A gift to Chicago from Kate Buckingham, in memory of her brother, it was dedicated in 1927
as the world’s largest decorative fountain. The design is based on the Latona Fountain at
Versailles, France. It consists of three Georgia pink marble circular basins of 24-foot, 60-foot
and 103-foot diameters, siting on a 280-foot wide bottom pool. Together they hold 1,500,000
gallons of water recirculating 14,000 gallons a minute through 133 jets, with the central jet
reaching 137 feet into the air. The fountain symbolizes Lake Michigan and the four groups
of bronze “sea horses” represent the four States around it.

The fountain is stunning from every side – especially with the sun glistening through.
And depending on which way the wind is blowing, you might get a fine misting too!

The weather was surprisingly beautiful today.
And although I was supposed to be working on my taxes…
I knew that I had to be out on my bike! So I did… and gladly pedaled off for the day…

Headed south along the lakefront towards the city, enjoying the Spring scenery.
Ice & slush is finally gone. There are a few more potholes on the bike trail than usual.
But Spring was everywhere! Leaves finally popping out. Beaches. Skylines. Beautiful.

A little bit further, the Spring wildflowers were peaking out en mass… which made it
the perfect place to make a stop. Really, any place this beautiful is a great place to stop!

Getting closer to the city, I was intrigued by the empty harbors. All summer long, these slips
will be filled with hundreds & hundreds of boats. Every harbor will be filled. Packed full.
So I found it striking that there were absolutely no boats in the lake yet.

Just south of the Chicago Yacht Club, you turn back toward the city and are greeted by a
colorful forest of orange & yellow trees. These trees were installed about a year ago. They
were originally “planted” in Lincoln Park closer to the Zoo. But now they are right there
along the side of Lake Shore Drive. I love that Chicago has ART everywhere!!!

And as if the painted trees weren’t beautiful enough… the ground beneath them
is a blooming carpet of mini daffodils! Ain’t Mother Nature grand?… even with a coat of paint!

Just behind the painted trees is the Cancer Survivors’ Garden. There are beautiful iron
gazebos, benches, urns and gardens strolling up the hill towards the Colonnade.

And the perfect day kept getting better & better… as Magnolias were blooming everywhere.
One of the most striking flowers of Spring, which unfortunately don’t last very long. Just
one big wind storm and they’re gone for another year! And look closely…
apparently that early-rising bumble bee was excited to see the magnolias too!

From the Cancer Survivors’ Garden, it’s just a short walk to the BP Bridge which takes
you over the roads and into Millennium Park. The bridge has a shiny metal surface…
kind of like a Medieval metal-plated armor coating! Very striking… especially when
the sun is glaring off the shiny surface.

Across the bridge, you come up to the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Bandshell
and striking “birdcage” structure that works as a canopy & sound speaker support
for the concert goes who sit in the lawn. Personally, I’m not a huge fan of Mr. Gehry…
and if you saw this structure from the side or behind, I think it looks completely
unfinished. Okay, I know there’s a concept in there somewhere… I’m just saying…

As I was moving about Millennium Park, it was great to see Spring popping out everywhere.
Little flowers. Small Spring buds. The juxtaposition of last year’s foliage & grasses withering
away while the new Spring fun is emerging all around.

And then… oh, but wait there’s more… the fountain was on!
But I’ll save that for the next post. Coming soon…

Like the classic song from the 70′s band “Chicago”…
It was indeed a wonderful “Saturday In The Park”…
and “I’ve been waiting such a long time… for Saturday”… and for Spring!!!

Today has been beautiful with the sun trying to make its way out all day.
It finally came out, and I just “had to” go out for a bike ride. Surprising, huh?!
And to take a few moments to enjoy the sun, the lakefront and some of the art along the lake..
like this bronze sculpture near Belmont Harbor named “Signal Of Peace.”