What better way to celebrate Corey’s birthday than with bikes, trains and family. Despite several cocktails the night before, we managed to make the 7 AM train into the city. We then biked the eerily quiet Loop and then dragged our bikes down a flight of stairs and into the Millennium Station. We got onto the South Shore Line train before its scheduled departure of 8:30 to…..wait over an hour while they sorted some sort of electrical issue. Having local news legend Andy Shaw on our car did make the wait a little better. And I am so grateful for him answering my many, many questions about the news business. But the long wait still sucked.

In Hegewish the train picked up Tim and Linnea (also local legends) before dropping us off in Michigan City. The four of us then traveled the mile or so to Bruce and Audra’s condo. Ray and Laura were waiting which meant that all three sisters plus three brother-in-laws were there to celebrate Corey’s birthday.

We rode on the Calumet Trail toward the Dunes before detouring into the swank coastal enclave of Beverly Shores. We saw several wild turkeys and also a few colorful birds that none of us could identify. And then we had a great lunch at Shoreline Brewery (thanks again Bruce!) before taking the trains home in reverse order from the morning trek. As good as the trail and lunch were, however, I know Corey enjoyed the company more. So to my South-Side Swedish family I say “tack!”