OK, the whole idea for this thing came about when I was able to get free rides on all the RTA routes - all. So that tells you I am of a certain age.
And my OCD takes an odd path. I am not a compulsive hand-washer, nor do I have other recognisable tics. And although I am a neatnik, I have learned to live with someone who most definitely is not. Kind've of a "his space", "my space".
No, my OCD is an alpha thing. A to Z.
My life is somewhat organized around this concept. I have a large collection of books, and awhile ago I put them all on a spread sheet (including sheet music, CDs,, DVDs, video and audio tapes, etc. Anything that could be found in a library). And for years now I have been going through them in alphabetical order. I figure I will be at least 77 before I get through the As.
So I travel from a book called "Abbeys of Europe", and have done it in the exact order of that book, chronologically, not at all practical, and have duplicated all the pictures from this 1968 book. The times of my life. Almost done. I have many notes from these trips that I would like to turn into a book someday entitled "A 21st Century Pilgrimage". Then I bought a book called "The $24 Bargain", about Holland, so that will be my next few trips. If I can afford any more. The way the economy is tanking, who knows?
I am cooking (I love to cook) from a book called "1,001 Low-Fat Recipes", going through it by the index. Starting in 2002, I am now down to the ps. We had paella last night. There were 77 chicken recipes. I am also going through "The A List", The American Film Institute's book of the most essential films of all times. Not only seeing those flics, but also every one mentioned in the review.
It occurs to me here that you may wonder how I got from "Abbeys of Europe" to "The #24 Bargain". Well, until this year I was doing great in plowing through my books, with the very occasional departure if the book discussion group I belong to read something I thought might be worthy. This was rare, but I love the people so I faithfully attend. Anyway. I was doing well, getting down to "The Age of Uncertainty" by Galbraith, having read all the "Ages" books by Will Durant except one, and the complete "Abraham Lincoln" by Sandburg. Large tomes all.
But unfortunately, well-laid plans get jolted sometimes. My next door neighbor moved and offered me my choice of very many books, free. Who could refuse? Naturally, I only selected those that began with a number or A. These had to be entered in. Then a friend wanted to go to the Little City Book Fair in Skokie. Who could refuse? I did limit myself to the travel section, and only those books starting with a number. More than a few. And to cap it all off, I decided to attend the Newberry Library Book Sale. More books, here only children's, and although only starting with a number or A, I did pick and choose only ones that looked interesting. And every year, we take the fiction paperback throw-aways from a local book sale to give to charity. We have done this for years, same charity. This year they were moving their library and couldn't take them. Boxes of pbs in the garage. So natch, I went out there and culled all the numbers and A's. Which, when I read them, will be put back in the boxes to eventually go somewhere, as I do not keep paperbacks. But, see, now I have a whole ton more in front of "Ages". And in my spread sheet #24 comes before Abbeys. But because I already started that project, I will finish it before I move on to Holland. And 1,000 comes before 1000. Enough explanation for you?
To add insult to injury, I have lot of clothes, no more drawer or closet space; I never get rid of anything. So a few years ago, I decided to only wear those things that either had no label or whose label began with an A. It was a good thing I had clothes from Appleseed's and Avenue. Shoes, bags, all except jewelry. And believe me, I have a complete year-round wardrobe with those alone. As they wear out, I will move on to the bs. I have enough clothes to last the rest of my life, I'm sure. I also love to garden, and the first garden book was "100 Herbs", so now I am working on turning my yard into all herbs. Wonderful, so far. The hunt alone is great.
There is probably more, but this should suffice to tell you where I am coming from. I have never regretted this alpha stuff. It has led me to more good times and adventures than you would ever imagine. I look upon it as a gift. Naturally I drive an Acura, 1993, my most prized possession.
So when we picked up from Navy Pier last spring a map of all the CTA bus and rail routes, with a few PACE and Metra lines thrown in as far as Cook County is concerned, I thought "Why not do them all? See the sights for free! In numerical order of course."
This blog is intended to tell you all about my adventures and observations in this years long project. There are over 200 bus routes alone.
THE #1 BUS ROUTE INDIANA/HYDE PARK
And Tuesday, August 26th, 2008, I started.
The very first bus is the #1, called Indiana/Hyde Park. It goes from Union Station south to 51st and Drexel and back again. It is a rush hour bus only, and I am most definitely NOT a morning person. But I have relatives in Woodlawn and this did seem a perfect opportunity to visit them, so I planned to get the last bus to leave Union Station at 9:30am, and return on the last to leave 51st and Drexel, at 6 pm. I guess I got there early, and as I waited I began to worry that I had got something wrong, so when I spotted what seemed to be a CTA answer person I went up to him and asked if the #1 bus was still running. He replied with a big wide grin, "Just for you?", so I say, grinning back, "Yeah." And he says "Sure.", relieving my fears. Five minutes later it came, although I had to flag it down, as it had actually stopped way back behind some other buses, and was pulling out around them on its way to Jackson, whereas I was right in front of the actual sign.
I left on the bus at 9:25 and arrived at the end of the line at 10am. It barely skirts the north tip of Hyde Park, and it
was not until the return trip that I figured out the Indiana part of this route, It goes south on Michigan, but returns north on Indiana as far as 31st, where it turns left to come back up Michigan Avenue.The route - The bus travels west on Jackson from Union Station on the Canal Street side. Immediately turns east on Jackson, going to Michigan, which it will traverse all the way south to 51st. There it turns east to Drexel Square, passing this Moorish Science Temple, and Washington Park. When I got off the bus, there in front of me was an absolutely spiffy fountain, with Mr. Drexel himself on top. What a find! Beautiful bronze sculptures surrounding the base.
When I first got on, I gave the driver some cherry tomatoes picked from the garden that morning. I was lugging a whole bagful to my relatives. At first he thought he heard me say "cherries" and didn't catch the "tomatoes". So naturally he said "These sure don't look like cherries". I'm sure he thought he had some kind of nut here. And maybe he had.
As the bus passed the Blackstone Hotel on Michigan, I noticed for the first time that this building has a National Register of Historic Places plaque. Loving all things architectural, I was glad to see that. Remember my abbeys trips? They are all architecturally significant. We also passed the new Spertus Museum building, of which Blair Kamin of the Trib has raved, rightly so. We passed many Columbia College buildings, including the Schools of Music and Dance, and all of IIT, designed by Mies Van der Rohe. Personally, I'm not a lover of his work. There were lots of great old brownstones and Indiana limestone mansions
from another time, but for the most part still looking great. 
We passed Provident and Mercy Hospitals and the main Chicago Police Department. Plus Old St. Mary's Church. Whoever thought that new addition was a good design? I'm sorry; it is just plain nasty.There were only a few passengers, and some only riding a few blocks. The driver was very nice, answering the many questions posed to him helpfully and patiently.
When I got off the bus at that fountain, I asked the driver where I would catch the return bus, and he pointed right across the street (we were on 51st which is Hyde Park Boulevard) to a bus stand. But when I got there coming home, the sign did not say #1, and I had to walk one block west, to just west of Cottage Grove.
And on the way back we passed the National Association of Letter Carriers building. The picture you see here "Joyce Ford" was taken going north on Michigan. I have no idea what it means. The other picture is two new high-rises going up just south of the "Agora" torso sculptures. To get back to Union from Michigan, the driver turns west on Adams to Canal.
It was what I call " a San Diego Da
y". Perfectly blue skies, low humidity, soft breeze. I had a marvelous time.First one down.
