Gary's Excellent Adventure X2

On November 6th, 2006, I drove from Grace, Idaho to Salt Lake City, Utah to the Salt Lake International Airport three hours south.

I then boarded flight 1228 on American Airlines bound for Chicago, Illinois non stop.

When I arrived in Chicago O'Hare Airport, I was met by Gail McCook, her son Bobby and his wife April.

We traveled to the Science and Industrial Museum

to see the U 505 German captured U Boat

there on display.

We also saw the WWII Enigma machine which was a secret device used by the Germans for secret communicaiton that was taken from the U 505 when it was captured.

The rest of the Museum had many other things which we visited, but time ran out before we could see everthing.

We then all went to United Center in the Heart of downtown Chicago and attended a Chicago Bulls game vs

the Milwalkee Bucks, first professional game I ever attended, it was quite the treat.

We rested the next day but did some shopping, Bobby, Gail and I.

Bobby and I played some new video games he had on his Xbox 360, and one evening when Robert got home from work he showed me his gaming talents, you know adults and the best kids out here!

We ate wonderful food, steak, chicken, lasaguna, went out for Chicago Deep Dish Pizza, had Chicago hot dogs.

Robert got us visitor passes to his work location at Argonne labortories and Gail, Bobby and I traveled there and took a half day pass seeing all there was to see. Very interesting place but I must admit some of the scientific explanations to things were a bit above my head.

To top it off, Bobby and I took a solo trip on the 11th of November to downtown Chicago. Robert and Gail live in Plainfield about 45 minutes from Chicago.

Bobby and I first went to the Navy Pier, walked around the entire Pier and I began photographing everything in the city, most the photos posted here are of downtown Chicago, but I pretty well kept my trip in order by photographs from start to finish.

Bobby and I figure we walked approximately 15 blocks to and 15 blocks back from the Sears Tower. We walked there on one set of streets and then took a detour coming back and took different streets on our return trip. The town, building, people and scenery were all wonderful, what a thrill.

I finished my trip thinking how good of patriots live in Chicago.

I really never have observed so much U.S. Flag waving, cheering for one's country etc. from any community I've lived in or visited before.

At the Chicago Bulls game, there are large televisions overhead the court, the flags were on there during the The Star-Spangled Banner being sung by a professional singer, and everyone there had their hands over their hearts like it is suppose to be and like I used to watch at parades etc as a child.

Back in September during a visit to Ketchum, Idaho to the Wagon Days Parade, I watched as the Flag came by in the parade, I was shocked to see almost everyone in the crowd not salute the flag or cross their hearts as the flag was flown, being from that area I was sadened by what I watched and realized the people that live there now are not the ones who lived there when I was a child, and how sad it was to see so few with respect for the American Flag.

In Chicago however my faith has been renued as people here respect, display and cross their heart in recognition and respect for the flag of our Great Nation!

God Bless America

One final note:

I have a few very dear and close friends, and some great relatives, but I wish to thank the entire McCook Family for this excellent vacation, they are such great friends.

I had a great bedroom with a nearby bath, I was made to feel at home at all times, I felt comfortable, relaxed and free to do as I pleased. They went out of their way to be good to me and entertain me and provide me with a trip I'll remember for a lifetime.

Gail unfortunately has an injured neck and was not able to participate in a lot because of the pain she is dealing with, my heart goes out to her. April, Bobby's wife works at Lowe's and she was busy working most days, and Robert was also very busy with work, so Bobby got the job to entertain me most the time.

Bobby and I on the 11th when we traveled to Chicago went to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, He had a bucket of trash, otherwise known as some deep fried fish, shrimp and other seafood, I had a taste it was wonderful, I had Shrimp stuffed with crab and rice, it was delicious as well.

Bobby and I walked a great deal of downtown Chicago and saw and experienced many things, all good. Hope my photographs show my trip well and others get to enjoy what I got to see and experience.

Thanks to the McCook Family!

I fly home November 13th, Sunday 2006 and return to work the following morning! It was a great break from work.