Bryan Ferry was a man ahead of his time. Armani, Roxy Music and the continuous reinvention of himself, now in Babylon Berlin. Now Iowa is Avalon.
Life is full of surprises if we challenge our assumptions – the natural beauty and imagination of the rest areas in Iowa. Who’d have known – east coast provincialism. I had thought it was all flat, snow and Charles Grassley. Now I’m a fan.
Love the Wallace Stengler, even if he made is name in Wisconsin. Anyway, musical religious notes from Nick Cave and Joan Osborne nicely offset by Lola and Lou as we glide towards the mother of all rivers, the Mississippi , that sea of heartbreak. Ian ponders Jesus, the missing years.
We crossed the rubicon into Illinois. Good bye west but I hope there is some going back. The boys chartered their whereabouts in their own distinct ways.
A burst of rain but storms never last. The locals do seem to take pet hygiene seriously.
We pressed on singing with the Blues Brothers and nodding to Plainfield as we passed Joliette, numbed by Moby, soothed by Sade and chewing gum to Kyla la Grange. Then the towers of Chicago loomed through the midst and soon became real.
Another hotel – another shower challenge, or maybe I’m just getting old .
Just as well the solution is just a rub away , rub away. This should start me up.
Refreshedly now wrinkle free, we head out for dinner in Chicago’s Viagra Triangle with old friends, Linda the writer and Eric the super Dean. 
Great friends of Kate and me , our sons Tinsley and Hugo were brothers in arms. Now these kids are both responsible parents: we remember them from the earlier times of their midnight rambling. The restaraunt name made the nod.
After a great night of medical politics, good food and wine and well, some of the real stuff ( collusion is not a crime ) the boys headed back to the hotel where there, on the big screen in the bar, was Nonno’s Roma playing Barca while below them on split screens CNN and Fox gave competing views of the world.
Only mildly distracted by the ludicrous novelty of watching Fox , we enjoyed our guruette recommended Rose while seeing Roma win even if Messi and Neymar seem to be on their summer holidays . 
Nearing the end now, could this be the last picture show?
One of the best ‘en route’ commentary. ‘Life is full of surprises if we challenge our assumptions’. Deeply and incredibly true. Some courage is needed as well. The Rubicone translated into the US just a great association. I read it three times to make sure i did not miss words and images. Chapeau.
Thanks B
Greetings to the Dynamic Duo from Singapore. I lost connectivity with your blog for several days but thanks to the FitzGerald expertise i have been reconnected. Good to know the two of you have made it as far as Chicago and not been accosted for sporting PA license plates in the deeply conservative middle of the country. Good to see you connected with Eric and Linda. Keep trucking.
Thanks Ed! Good to have you on board.
Recommend that you stay a day and go to see the Cubs from the bleacher seats in Wrigley Field for a true Chicago experience! If Chicago dog is not quite your speed can always divert to Alinea for dinner!
Ha we tried A
Full up and wanted a minimal charge to be on the wait list!
Still dinner in the Viagra Triangle with Eric was worth it!
Wow …. I am so impressed that you were able to watch CNN and Fox on one screen :
That must be a first for you guys … I am not quite sure if one should be congratulating you both or What ??? I am lost for words … maybe that’s the way to watch the midterm results !!
I am pleased that Roma won 4-2
You will be pleased to get home; not having to deal with anymore complicated showers
I love the way you are both studying the map of Illinois ,
Your writing always get better and better towards the end!!
Really cool pictures too 😎😎