The Abegweit"?! In Chicago?

We're on the Chicago Lakeshore, heading for the Navy Pier not far away.

Moored amongst sleek yachts and sailboats -

is the silhouette of a ship that was undoubtedly a ferry. 



As we got closer we recognized her name: 

The Abegweit?  How on earth did this vessel come to be here?  Abegweit is the Miqmaw name for Prince Edward Island - Cradled on the Water - and has been the name of at least two of the ferries that connected Canada's smallest province to the mainland. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Abegweit_%281947%29

And sure enough this was one of them.  It was decommissioned in 1982 and sold to the Columbia Yacht Club where it now serves as a training facility and headquarters. 

 

Blair remembers many occasions waiting for hours to board the ferry back in the 70s.  Those days are over now that there's a permanent bridge to the Island.  But it's nice to see the Chicagoans kept the name of the ship and its connection to Canada. 

We carried on to the Navy Pier - a big entertainment spot with a Children's Museum, a shopping mall and a tavern where we rested our weary buns.  This wasn't just any tavern - it was Harry Caray's tavern. 

(picture to come soon)

He was the long-time voice of the Chicago Cubs - the guy who sang "Take Me out to the Ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch at Wrigley Field.  He's passed on, but his tavern is a virtual museum to his character.  There's a bronze bust of his head in the entrance where visitors - famous and not - have their pictures taken.  We couldn't resist the temptation.  The walls are lined with pictures of celebrities next to the bust - from Burt Reynolds to Bobby Hull.  But no one asked for a print of our photo.  I wonder why? Blair's name starts with a 'B.'

Our last stop before we caught the bus was also unexpected.  We got to sit on Bob Hartley's couch!  You remember?  Bob Hartley was a psychiatrist played by Bob Newhart in his first TV series. 

I have to say we were more in need of massage therapy than psychotherapy at that point but the sculptor had definitely captured Newhart's spirit.

Then it was back to Wicker Park and one of its many fine restaurants for supper. (Cumin - Nepalese/Indian cuisine) We were both in bed by ten.  You could hear the noise of the El not far away, but it wasn't loud and I think it eventually lulled me to sleep.