Stunning sunrise colors sweeping the sky this morning
if for only a few moments. Then it was back to gray, back to clouds.
But this morning’s sunrise was STUNNING…
and deserves a larger panoramic photo!!!

The forecast was rain overnight followed by clouds all day. Forever optimistic… I got up early and decided to go for my morning bike ride even though it was VERY dark & cloudy still. So glad I did… as we had a few moments of STUNNING!!! Incredible colors sweeping across the sky before the sun went behind the clouds for the day!

Not a cloud in the sky… and even better, the heat & humidity seems to have broken! Such a beautiful morning. Blue skies. Orange glow. Nice breeze… and not nearly as sweaty!!!

So the overnight forecast was rain all night into the morning hours… but as the eternal optimist, I decided to set my alarm just in case the rain passed through earlier. And it did!!! The roads were dry so I threw on my bike gear & headed out… still LOTS of clouds! But no rain as predicted.. and sadly NO SUNRISE!!!

It was also perfect timing to find the Gold Star Families Memorial sculpture all lit up with sunrise reflections. Just south of the Museum Campus, between the harbor and Soldier Field… a fun moment as you pedal up the hill to be greeted by this sunrise surprise!

You know it’s gonna be a hot one when you wake up early and it’s already in the 80’s! But because I’m a little crazy, I still put on my bike gear and headed out into the humidity… already SWEATING!!! But I’m glad I did. As I went a bit further than usual and got some great shots downtown at Monroe Harbor as a “huge” sun was coming up through the boats.

And then I figured… I’m already a big sweaty mess, so why not go all the way down to end of the bike trail at the South Shore Cultural Center.

So I did.
Dripping.

Not a cloud in the sky, just some early morning haze. Already a bit humid… you can tell it’s gonna be a hot one today. And although the lifeguard chairs are out there on the beaches… don’t be fooled. The beaches are still officially CLOSED here in Chicago! So no large groups congregating along the Lakefront!

Another dark start for my morning ride. Not a lot of sunrise spectacle… but it was great to find that the lakefront bike trail has finally been re-opened from North Avenue to Navy Pier… with a few sections repaired after the erosion & pavement issues from last winter. Now if we could just do “something” to take care of the lake flooding right up & over the shore and onto the bike trail.

Another cloudy day. Even though the sun couldn’t quite make it through, it is still the best way to start my day. Very few people out on the Lakefront Bike Trail this early in the morning… especially on the gloomy days! But look at what they’re missing…

Lots of clouds without much of a sunrise to speak of. Sure, it was beautiful… with lots of gently rolling waves along the way. Dark, dramatic & moody… still not a bad way to start the day!