Chicago sucks.

Really, it does. Not only is an industrial wasteland, the roads are in pretty bad shape and under constant construction. We pay for the roads through federal taxes, and they still have the balls to charge us a toll to use their crappy roads. Maybe the lakefront area is nice, but the rest of Chicago stinks (literally). Their politics are corrupt and the streets crime ridden. The worst part is that the city exports both the crime and corruption to neighboring states (including Washington DC).

In case you can't tell, I don't much Chicago.

But getting into Wisconsin was nice, despite the concrete "bouncy bouncy" roads. Things were a bit more sedate, and with the exception of the occasional left-lane-slowpoke, it was enjoyable.

So was Highway 61 home. Ah, home at last.

Three weeks until my next trip. Can't wait!

An OH CRAP moment

The Hampton Inn had their breakfast spread out early so i was able go hit the road at 6am. It was a cool 57 degrees with menacing clouds, but no rain.

About 50 fifty feet after passing a semi a doe materialized about 25 feet in front of the bike. I think it came from the median, but i am not sure. It stopped in front of me then Changed directions and went towards the right ... At this point i realized i was already on the brakes and starting to go from 'squeeze' mode (to transfer the weight to the front tire) to 'clamp' mode (to REALLY slow the bike). just as i thought i was going to hit it, it did cartoon-scramble to the right. It was so close i thought was going to run over the hind legs or clip it with a sidecase.

It did neither. Two seconds later the semi i had just passed was next to me. As far as i could tell, the doe managed to avoid that too.

I am still amazed at how quickly it all happenau. I am glad that the emergency braking procedures we have taught happened automatically. So here i am, testifying that David Hough was right .. Learn it, and practice it, because when you'll need it, you won't have time to think about it.

Homeward bound

On Friday i finished up with my client and Saturday i was on the road. I rode through central Pennsylvania, enjoying the gaps through the ridges. This is a pretty state, but the speed limits are too low compared to other states. For example, other states would rate a two-lane highway 55 and PA soils make it 45. Or a windy road through WV is marked at 55 with a suggested corner speed of 25
.. PA would set the speed limit at 25. For this reason, i will not make PA a 'destination' state.

There was a section where the road went from two to one lane, and during the mile we had to merge, the minivan behind me straddled both lanes, effectively preventing anyone behind from using the second lane. In other words, the driver of that van felt nobody should be able to use the full capacity of the road, and had impose his/her will on everyone else. The only other place i have encountered such rude and purposefully inconsiderate behavior is Minnesota.

I could also write about northern Ohio and Indiana, but there isn't much to say, except the chrysler and gm plants are all empty.