> If you're going to start at the beginning (Jackson at Michigan Ave.) in
> Chicago I'd suggest dropping any towed stuff like a trailer where you
> can find it again. Chicago traffic is fierce. Same for the end point in
> Santa Monica (allegedly the Santa Monica Pier) which is at Olymic and
> Lincoln Boulevards about a mile from the amusement park.

My Chicago advice is, unless you are planning to spend time in Downtown
Chicago, start early on a Sunday morning... but NOT NOT NOT Labor Day
weekend... and start at Lake Shore at Jackson.  The official tour (and
historic begin/end signs) are at Jackson (and Adams) at Michigan.  Jackson
at Michigan was the original begin/end, but that moved out to Lake Shore at
Jackson when US 41 was moved to Lake Shore in the 1930's or early '40's.

In the 1950's, Jackson from Michigan inland became one-way EAST, so
westbound traffic moved to Adams.  The two blocks of Jackson between Lake
Shore and Michigan were two-way, and still are.

I traveled through Chicago twice, following the Lake Michigan Circle Tour
north, and US 41 south, both on Sunday mornings.  No trouble at all with
traffic on the return trip.  Trip north was awful but only because it was
Labor Day weekend and (outer) Lake Shore was CLOSED to everyone but
bicyclists.  Do NOT NOT NOT go on Labor Day Sunday as all the overflow
traffic will be on Michigan Avenue and the Chicago authorities do NOT sign
a detour.  The cop at the South end of Lake Shore was not at all helpful.

I knew I needed Michigan Avenue, but it does not run as far South
(continuously, or two-way) as Lake Shore.  A lot of other stuff, like any
parks along Lake Shore, will also be closed to non-bicycle traffic that day,
too.

Mike


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