Day 15: Crazy Canadians

Dagens rute: (kart)

After chilling it in Chicago for a couple of days we again jumped in our great car and hit the road. The goal of the day was one of the most anticipated experiences of the trip. The University of Michigan Wolverines playing the University of Massachusets Minutemen.

We had a pretty short drive from Chicago to Ann Arbor which we only broke of with breakfast at a small diner in the old industrial town of Gary, Indiana. Along the way we also crossed our last timezone and are now only six hours behind Norway.

The Days Inn in Ann Arbor had fortunately some computer problems at our arrival. Fortunately because that meant we had to chill in the lobby until the problems were sorted. Already sitting in the lobby waiting were four Canadians. The four canadians offered us beer, and as the beer loving guys we are we couldn't decline. We had already talked about getting to know some locals - and even though they were from Canada - they were more local than us. They even invited us to do some tailgating with them the next day before the game. Long story told short we hooked up with the Canadians, grabbed some beers, went out and got some food, and pretty much enjoyed ourselves like crazy.

Day 14: Chicago

We wanted a chill day in Chicago - and that is what we got. 

We met up with our friend Suzann for breakfast - a typical diner in the middle of a big city - and went on to see the Historical museum of Chicago. It was ok - we have all been to better museums - but at least it gave us a small insight in what Chicago is and has been about. 

After the museum Suzann went to work and we carried on by ourselves. We used our feet and walked up and down the two main streets Michigan and State. Lot of posh stores, lot of strange people and a couple of nice parks. Nothing all that exciting happened except we got some shopping done. Erlend and I bought some shoes, and I added a IPAD (and I am SO happy with it so far)

We jumped back in the car and drove over to our motel, which was a dump, and chilled for some hours until we were to meet Suzann again later in the evening. I guess we are getting old, because more often than not we all need to take short naps in the evening... 

Alcohol was out of the picture, we were driving pretty early the next morning, so we all agreed on a relaxing evening. Suzann took us to a pretty sweet sushi place and all three of us enjoyed sushi, Having lived in California for some months I have gotten hooked to the raw fish, and although Simon and Erlend were a little sceptic they both enjoyed once they tasted it. After that we took a train downtown and walked around some more. Chicago has a cool waterfront with beaches downtown. We were there in the evening, but I can only guess how lively it will get on hot days during the summer. They also have the world's largest fountain..... but we came to late and they had turned the water of. 

We ended the evening going up to a bar at the top of the John Hancock building (it was on the 96th floor) and grabbing coffee or water. They actually served still and sparkling Voss water. Kind of surreal sitting on top of one of the largest buildings in America drinking water from Voss :)

Day 13: A drive to Chicago

Dagens rute: (kart)

Our plan was to get up early and drive to Milwaukee - didn't happen. First of all we slept longer than expected, second of all we spent three hours booking hotels in Chicago, Ann Arbor and New York. So after a quick lunch at the Quarterback Club in Northfield (a place we used to go when I was in the states) we hit the road with Milwaukee in mind.

The only problem was that what we were going to see in Milwaukee would already be closed for the day when we got there. So.... we decided to drive to Chicago instead. And that's what we did.

In Chicago we met up with one of Simon and mine old friends from Cairo, Suzanne. We got to try out both the local beer and a local custom BYOB (bring your own beer). For us it is kind of strange experience going to a liquer store, buy beer and then bring the beer with you to a restaurant. The explanation for this is that it is so expensive to have a liquer license to sell alcohol at restaurants that a lot of places rather do it like this..

As mentioned we also tried the local beer, Goose Island. The have four different varieties and I must admit that none of them were really good, and only one of them were decent....