Entries this day: skating_in_Chicago

skating in Chicago

31 August 1996

This Labor Day weekend I am in Chicago visiting my friend Laura. Yesterday I went skating. She lives 1 block from Lake Shore Drive which curves around her section of Lake Michigan. I cruised over to the bike and skate path they have along the beachfront. It's mostly nice smooth asphalt, with a couple of steps down toward the shore, which is sand in some case, asphalt or concrete in others.

I sped along the path, navigating between walkers, joggers, skaters and bikers as some bikers navigated past me. If the path got too crowded, I would jump down the couple of steps to the much wider asphalt beach, and then back up to the sidewalk once I was past the crowds.

That was cool for a while, but I sought more adrenaline.

I used a pedestrian overpass to pass over Lake Shore Drive, and I ended up in a park, from which I headed toward downtown. I took care to note which streets I was using, so I could find my way back. I cruised the wrong way down Dearbourne for a few blocks, looking for more traffic than it provided. (I skate the "wrong way" so that I can see the oncoming traffic and take evasive action if necessary. I don't like it when cars sneak up on me.)

I met Lynette who was skating in search of The Baby Gap. I skated with her, asking where the coolest places to skate might be. We ended up cruising down Michigan Avenue a couple of blocks. ( I think it was Michigan Avenue - hey, it's a new city for me ) We parted ways, and I went down Grand Avenue (maybe) toward Navy Pier, where they have cool water fountains and a 200 foot tall ferris wheel, a carousel, a big shopping mall and an IMAX movie thing. I skated around the big outdoor fountain, which had semi-predictable patterns of water squirting where kids kids and adults (not skaters who don't want to get their bearings wet) could play.

I skated up an 18 wheeler access ramp and back down. It was only about 40 feet tall so no big deal.

I skated back down to Michigan Avenue, so I could play in traffic.

I pushed my way between oncoming traffic and parked cars, sometimes onto the sidewalk weaving between people when the street got a bit crowded. Sometimes turning hard when I missed a traffic light. Every person for himself, compassionless, emotionless, honking, city traffic. I love it. No one noticed a lone speeding skater, as long as he skated out of the way.

I found my way back to Lake Shore Drive, where I just rolled slowly watching the people. I saw a woman doing some cool "technical" footwork skating backwards weaving her feet quickly between road reflectors spaced about 4 feet apart. I was impressed with her ability. Another woman sped past, manuevering through the crowds as I like to do. So I took off after her. I figured she, if anyone, would know where to find the coolest places to skate.

I was tired, and she was probably in better shape than I, so I had to really work to keep up. The lake front path magically converted into mid city sidewalk, as it angled down toward a busy city street. "Cool" I thought, as she aggressively cut through the bikes and people at the intersection. I double checked her check for traffic and we both flashed across the street and onto the next curb.

Muscling up a hill, through much less pedestrian traffic, I skated up beside her. "You are the most aggressive skater I've seen all day." She didn't comment, but answered by taking a sharp turn in front of me and away down a different path. I took that as a hint to buzz off.

On the way back, I attacked the interesting intersection with similar vigor, cutting around the back of a bicycle crossing my path, and converting much kinetic energy into heat and ruts in the grass as I made it off the street and stopped without crashing through several people and a dog.

I wound my way much more slowly after that, not to be more careful, but I was just dog tired. I made it back and went skating again the next day.