Plymouth nil

Today, I was supposed to be going on a Gray Line tour down to Cape Cod, but I received an e-mail yesterday informing me that due to low numbers, the tour had been cancelled and that I could either switch to a different tour or have my money back.

I did look at other tours, but they don't run all the tours all the days, so there wasn't anything I wanted to go on, and with the other two games in this Red Sox/Phillies series being afternoon games, today was the only day I could do a day long tour, so I'll have to take the refund - minus the currency charges, of course.

Chicago to Boston

I knew I had to leave the hotel by 8.15am at the latest in order to get to the airport in plenty of time to deal with security.  I remembered that security took ages last year at O'Hare.  So, just after 8.30am, I left and went down to Jackson which has the accessible interchange with the Blue Line - if you can find it.  Still, I managed to get on the Blue Line train to the airport at 8.48am and it took 45 minutes to the airport as usual, which left me just 45 minutes to get to the terminal, through security and to the gate.  However, my boarding pass that had arrived the day before has a little 'TSA Pre' logo on it, which meant I could use the fast-track security line with a very short queue, and without needing to unpack everything for the X-ray machines.  In the end, I was at my gate a mere 15 minutes after my train arrived, and had to sit and wait for half an hour before boarding commenced!

The flight pushed back a few minutes early and after the traditional 15 minutes of touring the taxiways, we took off at 11:11.  This flight has wi-fi available, but they can keep it at $6.99, as it's only a short flight.  Lunch was served just after take-off, starting with the obligatory nuts, then I had chosen the burger, and finished with a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie.  The mostly deconstructed burger came with cheese, a slightly tough bun, potato salad, lettuce, cucumber, pickles, red onion, ketchup and mustard.  It had been cooked on board and was surprisingly tasty.  I shall try the chicken salad on the next flight, if it's available, as that was the other option.

Benny's

I must remember to dress more formally next time I visit Benny's.  The dress code is 'casual dress', and others were wearing shorts too, but the staff were all in smart suits and the diners probably ought to make more effort.  I had at 8pm reservation, I was shown to my table straight away to find it set for one, and unlike other places where they quickly remove the other sets of cutlery and glasses!  Before the tip, this meal came in a few cents under $100, but it was very nice.

I can only assume that the onion rings side is a sharing dish, as it was a mountain.  The steak was excellent, however, as was the honey-glazed bacon starter and the Chocolate Pudding Cake with butterscotch brittle and almond ice cream- which, thankfully, was small.

Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs (game 3)

The final game of this 3-game series, and my final game at Wrigley Field for this year, was a day game.  As I knew it was a day game and going to be very hot (remember, I only bought the ticket 4 days ago!), I chose a much cheaper seat up in section 524, as I remember from last year that up the top, you get a nice cooling breeze through, although you have to be in the back row to get the most benefit from it.   It was pleasant up there, as the temperatures hit the mid 90s.



This game was the most exciting of the three with fewer runs being scored in the early part of the game.  The Reds had edged in front 4-2 by the 8th inning.  The exciting new rookie Kris Bryant then tied the game with a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 8th to send everybody delirious.  The stadium was even shaking.  He keeps seeming to get the big hits for the Cubs and should be a fixture in the team for many years to come.  Unfortunately for him, though, you can go from hero to zero in the space of minutes, as he failed to stop a ball in the top of the 9th inning to let Jay Bruce reach base with 2 out.  If he makes the play, the top of the 9th is over.  However, the error allowed Joey Votto come to the plate and he promptly hit a 3-run home run to re-establish the Reds' lead.  Aroldis Chapman came in to pitch the bottom of the 9th and didn't have his fireball stuff (just the one pitch over 100mph today!) but didn't need it as he put away the Cubs to seal the series win for Cincinnati.

I didn't hurry back to the hotel, as I didn't want to ride in a crowded subway train.  As it was, I got a seat and cooled down.  The subway stop is 2 blocks from my hotel, so I made it back to my room without get too hot.

Cincinnati Reds @ Chicago Cubs (game 2)

A hat to catch the wind perhaps?

The middle game of this series was also a night game.  It was still hot, even as the night wore on and we got to 10pm.  After receiving a hammering the night before, the Cubs needed to right the ship.  They managed this - just. 

The woman singing the national anthem was wearing a strange hat ... perhaps it was an attempt to keep cool.

I was down in the main seating bowl, at the back of the section right behind the plate.  Unfortunately, the people in the row behind me did not appear to have come to watch the game, but discussed all kinds of financial matters, housing issues, immigration issues they were having and world affairs in extremely loud, penetrating voices throughout most of the game before they finally left in the 8th inning.

Weber Grill

I visited the Weber Grill, just two blocks away from my hotel for dinner at 4pm.  I had their BBQ combo meal, with no extra sides, as I knew from past experience that their sides are enormous.  The plate arrived and it was just different bits of meat under BBQ sauce with one small decorative piece of parsley on the top - it was just like that television advert!

Navy Pier

Today I decided to visit the lake, so went down to the Navy Pier.  Since "Labor" Day isn't until next Monday, lots of the attractions in Chicago are still fully operational, which meant that the place was bustling with activity.

I went for a short boat trip in the harbour area, mainly to keep cool, as it was blisteringly hot again.  I got some good photographs of the Chicago sky line, plus this sailing ship was out on the lake too.

There weren't all that many people on the boat trip, and fortunately there was enough shade on the outside deck so that it was possible to stay outside without getting burnt.