WELSH RUGBY SCARF 2012 ... a travel log in pictures.

**auld argonian** · 4th March 12, 09:17 AM

"Aren't you guys cold?" they yelled.

"Only our faces!" we replied.

A fast run across the Michigan Avenue Bridge to visit a sculpture that every kiltie can identify with:

And to pay homage to the legendary Chicago Cubs announcer, Jack Brickhouse...thank god that Tom was tall enough to get the scarf around Jack's neck.

...as the security guards closed in to counter this act of vandalism, we hotfooted it on outta there...and on to another landmark...

Many of you have heard of Mrs. O'Leary's cow that allegedly started the great Chicago Fire or 1871....but did you know that we had the cow bronzed? That's just how we roll in the Windy City...

The infamous Picasso in Daley Plaza...

**cryerelizabeth** · 4th March 12, 10:18 AM

Awesome pics! Chicago looks awesome

**A Hay** · 4th March 12, 11:03 AM

John,
I had a great time yesterday, despite the weather.
Thanks for setting it up and everything.

Greetings to Derek and Elaine in Wales!

Tom

**chrisupyonder** · 4th March 12, 11:09 AM

Just gone through the whole thread. Wonderful pictures and locations.
Looking forward to the rest of the travels.

Chris.

**auld argonian** · 4th March 12, 04:17 PM

But wait! There's more!

Tom and i had to kill an hour before we met up with the other guys at the Duke, so why not take the scarf to a world class cultural institution?

...and there is no truth to the rumor that if you can count all the dots in La Grand Jatte, you get a prize!

Tom insisted that there was a resemblance between me and the guy with the pitchfork but I don't see it...maybe I should have put my little reading glasses on...

On to the Duke!

**auld argonian** · 4th March 12, 04:24 PM

Our un-official Chicago Rabble Headquarters (until we get a better offer) The Duke Of Perth.

And we are joined by Mikilt...his first trip to the Duke AND he actually found street parking!

McFarkus and Mikilt raise the banner high.

...a bit of lunch, some good conversation, a couple of pints and the scarf and I headed home.

**auld argonian** · 4th March 12, 04:47 PM

One last stop on Sunday afternoon and I hope that you'll all forgive me if this seems self-indulgent but I thought that some of you might enjoy meeting this wonderful man.

My father, Ed Gronkowski, veteran of The Second World War, Eighth Army Air Force, Navigator on a B17 stationed in the East of England. A member of the Greatest Generation. The one mission that he always says was the best was his participation in Operation Manna/Chowhound; he was one of the men who flew desperately needed food and supplies into Holland after the occupying forces that held it retreated. Damn few of these men left in our world and I am proud to have one of them for my dad.

And so, the scarf will depart tomorrow morning as soon as the post office opens. The oxen are well rested and have been well fed...I'm also seeing to it that they have small jet engines attached to them. I'm looking at the prospective destinations and concocting a devious clue as to the next destination.

I'm gonna miss the scarf. Because of it, I got to meet the Chicago Tafia Society the...and the Godfather of the Tafia, no less. It's also been mighty cold and I have to confess that I have gotten a bit of extra warmth from the scarf as we travelled about. Thanks to Mark and Mike for joining us at the Duke and thanks to Tom Hay for braving the weather and being game for our photo jaunt around the Chicago Loop.

Godspeed, little scarf!

Best

AA

**seanachie** · 4th March 12, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

One last stop on Sunday afternoon and I hope that you'll all forgive me if this seems self-indulgent but I thought that some of you might enjoy meeting this wonderful man.

My father, Ed Gronkowski, veteran of The Second World War, Eighth Army Air Force, Navigator on a B17 stationed in the East of England. A member of the Greatest Generation. The one mission that he always says was the best was his participation in Operation Manna/Chowhound; he was one of the men who flew desperately needed food and supplies into Holland after the occupying forces that held it retreated. Damn few of these men left in our world and I am proud to have one of them for my dad.

And so, the scarf will depart tomorrow morning as soon as the post office opens. The oxen are well rested and have been well fed...I'm also seeing to it that they have small jet engines attached to them. I'm looking at the prospective destinations and concocting a devious clue as to the next destination.

I'm gonna miss the scarf. Because of it, I got to meet the Chicago Tafia Society the...and the Godfather of the Tafia, no less. It's also been mighty cold and I have to confess that I have gotten a bit of extra warmth from the scarf as we travelled about. Thanks to Mark and Mike for joining us at the Duke and thanks to Tom Hay for braving the weather and being game for our photo jaunt around the Chicago Loop.

Godspeed, little scarf!

Best

AA

Thanks for this last pic, I am an 8th Air Force 52nd Bomb Wing, Strategic Air Command vet and enjoyed the pic very much. My father in law was an Army Air Force vet from WWII, serving as a tailgunner and he passed last April.
For your Dad's sacrifice and bravery I tip my hat. Freedom is never free.

**starbkjrus** · 5th March 12, 01:10 PM

Thanks for those pics AA. Looks like several fun outings.

Odd coincidence - Just as I got to the pic of the Chase Bank auditorium (and I mean just at that moment) Peter Sagal was signing off a Wait Wait... podcast. "THIS is NPR." My fav program along with The News Quiz on BBC4.

**auld argonian** · 5th March 12, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by starbkjrus

Thanks for those pics AA. Looks like several fun outings.

Odd coincidence - Just as I got to the pic of the Chase Bank auditorium (and I mean just at that moment) Peter Sagal was signing off a Wait Wait... podcast. "THIS is NPR." My fav program along with The News Quiz on BBC4.

Actually, that was the Chicago Theatre and the auditorium that they do Wait Wait from is in the actual Chase Bank Building (which was the First National Bank Of Chicago till they were bought out) a couple of blocks away. All of the old theatres are owned by larger financial concerns right now...the Old Schubert Theatre (which was the Majestic before it was bought by the Schubert Organization many years ago) is now the Bank Of America Theatre having briefly been the LaSalle Bank theatre...it's kinda dumb because everybody still calls them by the original names. Ford put up the money to restore the Oriental Theatre so they got their name over the title and GM did the Bismarck Theatre, originally The Palace, so it's now "The Cadillac Palace".

Should any of you come to Chicago and love the old theatres, be here on a Saturday morning because they do a running tour of all of the good old ones that are left. The Chicago and the Oriental are spectacular...built in an age or excess.

Best

AA