Chicago, IL

The day started out normally enough, but it definitely felt a bit strange to be on the move again after a great four nights in Madison and to be on congested highways after the wide open spaces of the plains. I kept looking in the rear view mirror, just watching how the trailer tracked, happy with how it felt after some fresh grease on the WD hitch, reminding myself to take turns wide and allow for extra space when passing.
We took the last exit before the sign for a toll booth, realizing that we didn't have any cash in the car. On the shoulder, I ran back to the trailer, flung the door open with the assistance of the wind and pushed aside the jackets that hang on hooks mounted on the screen door, so I could fish through Ann's purse.
With a $10 in my pocket, I accelerated back onto the on ramp, matching speed with the left lane-dwelling semi's and aimed for the cash toll booth on the right. Car toll was $1.90, but our extra axles cost us a total of $4.00.
A couple minutes later down the road, a Honda pulled into the lane beside us and started making those gestures that give trailer owners heart burn. Flat tire? Lost bikes? Dog leash dangling from the clip on the steps (even though I knew Gorilla was snoozing next to me in the passenger seat)? Through his open window, he yelled "You're losing all kinds of clothes all over the highway!" In the curbside mirror, I could see Ann's green jacket - the one that hangs on the *inside* of the door - fluttering in the wind, the rest of the hooks empty. [continued in comments]

Alright, to whoever told the first Uber driver to miss the turn to the campground three times then drive right past me as I waved and flashed my flashlight before doing a counter-terrorist evasive U-turn and speeding away because he apparently thought we was 'bout to get 'jacked by the dude in the Patagonia button up with his daughter's stuffed polar bear peeking out of his backpack, kudos. Nice way to end the day! #areyoufreakingkiddingme #kindaexcitedtosewhathappensnext!

After a rather stressful morning, at least I got to unwind by driving the trailer through heavy construction into downtown Chicago. Uh yeah, it's beer:30, or it would be except... See, the plan was to park at this downtown truck lot that also allows RV's to overnight, the huge benefit of which is that it's only 15 minutes from things like the Cloud Gate (aka: the big silver bean. Hmmm, we seem to be drawn this shape and color, huh?) as opposed to the other options which were over an hour outside the city. While online reviews prepped us not to expect much, we quickly decided (well not before paying actually) that we did not want to spend the night there amongst the stored trucks and tour busses.
Well, I skipped a detail; I'm actually flying out of Chicago to SF this evening for a little over 24 hours and leaving the family somewhere to explore Chicago for a day. Yes, tonight of all nights. And no, I wasn't about to leave them in this empty lot in the middle of a major city. Still, we settled in for lunch in the shadow of the semis and gave Mae her second nap while we figured out an option.
Thirty minutes into the slog back out of the city in rush hour traffic to an actual campground, the reserve light went on. I mean, what're you gonna do but laugh at this point? Having had the opportunity to push the trip computer way past zero, we just ignored it and pressed on (no, this part of the story does not come back 😉). We pulled into a really nice campground at 6:00 and had the hot water heater for my shower on, the oven preheating for pizza and the trailer leveled and unhitched by 6:30 as a spectacular sunset developed. Ann had the kids fed and getting ready for bed as I walked out the door to meet an Uber at 7:00 heading for O'Hare. I'd say we're getting pretty good at this staying flexible stuff! #whataday #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #rvlife #lifeontheroad

Bean there, done that, got the shot. #cloudgate #airstreaminspiredart #silverbean #travelwithkids #familytravel #chicago #advodnaxmascard #wynnehangingwiththefamily

So I spent just about 24 hours yesterday in our "hometown" of Petaluma. The trip went great and mission accomplished (unless the mission was "sleep" in which case it was a horrible failure). Details on all that to come, but it seemed like a perfect thing to do upon my return to Chicago to check out the recently opened Midwest brewing/distribution operation and taproom of our Petaluma local favorite Lagunitas Brewing Company. Despite being located in a *monster* industrial warehouse, they've done a pretty incredible job migrating the unique culture of the Petaluma operation. Entry is through a trippy, laser-lit hallway with windows to the bottling line, up two flights of stairs to a level overlooking a tasting lounge very reminiscent of the employee bar in CA and to a taproom with long communal tables just like those right smack in the middle of the brewery operations in Petaluma. A fun stop made even better by the last minute realization that the bass player from our bluegrass band in SF, @racmenlo, who had moved away to PA after his wife was diagnosed with triplets was in town on business and came out to meet us! #Lagunitas #lagunitastaproom #lagunitaschicago #chicago