Another beautiful morning with a few wispy clouds blowing though the city. It started with a low & kinda uneventful layer low on the horizon… but luckily, the clouds spread & opened up to catch the colors as the sun came up.

Another early start for another beautiful sunrise bike ride. Some people have asked “what time I start to ride”… and it kinda depends on the season & when the actual sunrise is… as the “pretty part” where the colors all change is about a half hour before the sun actual crests the horizon. Currently, because the sunrise is so late… I’m heading out when it is still pitch black about 5:45am. As you can see the dark skyline shots that were taken this morning just past my turn-around point about 10 miles in. Then I pedal towards home hoping to catch the “actual” sunrise before I get there. I’m one of the few people who actually look forward to the Fall time change… as it effectively gives me another hour in my morning before I need to head-off to work! More time to play along the lake & enjoy the sunrise!!! Sure, it’s early… but look at this!!!

As part of my morning bike ride, I went down to cheer on the Chicago Marathon runners! After doing it last year, I know how much better the cheering crowd can make make their day. So I was there watching… impressed by the wheelchair racers coming through first… intrigued by the Elite runners who flew by in no-time flat… impressed by the first couple waves of fast runners who oddly seem to “enjoy” running (not jogging) while gliding by quickly & effortlessly… and then “my peeps”… the ones in the later Race Corrals like M & N. The ones who you can tell are NOT full-time runners, but excited to tackle the day & have a great time! They’re going to have a LONG day out in the breeze & chilly weather… but they’re also going to have a great time going through so many of Chicago’s great neighborhoods! Just keep moving forward… and HAVE FUN TODAY!!!

We had beautiful blue skies today… warm temps & not a cloud in the sky! Just a little hazy day lingering downtown. I kept trying to stay focused to get some work done… but instead, my bike won out again! That’s why I’m in the studio tonight!!!

But still… even a flat tire is a small price to pay for a panoramic sunrise like this!!!
ANOTHER STUNNING SUNRISE!!!

Gone, but not forgotten. So the viral sensation of the FRIDAY MORNING SWIM CLUB may have come to a skidding halt… as it has taken a bad turn in the press & legalities are in process. But it’s hard to stop a popular sensation like this. So while there was no “official” swim this morning, I was still intrigued & wanted to see how many people would show up for the swim. As I pedaled over to Montrose Harbor, you were instantly “greeted” with police cars, news trucks & the police boat patrolling the water. While the crowd was wildly diminished from the usual “thousands” of people… there were still a lot of die-hards who were not going to let the weekly swim die so easily. Even with the choppy waters… there were still a lot of Swim Clubbers in the water!

For what has become an annual tradition, there’s always a “photo-shoot” with your Triathlon Finisher’s Medal at Chicago’s Buckingham Fountain. Such a beautiful spot for a few photos… especially on such a beautiful blue-sky day!!! Plus it just happens to be along the long walk back from Finish Line to the Transition Area to reclaim my bike & gear. The end of a beautiful day downtown… and fun another race in the books!!!

A bit of a hazy start to the day. Looks a little “foggy” over the skyline… shrouded before the sunrise. And a quick glimpse at the large blue sculpture at Diversey Harbor. You may not know the artist who made it… but my Summer Campers sure do… first AND last name!!!

And the answer?… the sculptor of this sculpture?… JOHN HENRY.

“Second verse, same as the first”… another murky & monochromatic morning.
Looks like the smoky haze from the Canadian wildfires is back with us for a few days… ugh.

So when I mentioned yesterday that I LOVE the cloudy & moody mornings… I’m not sure I meant quite this much?!!! It was pretty “drama-filled” this morning with the windy gusts, crashing waves & plenty of clouds!!!