How I spent my (latest) Summer vacation...

First, I did the tourist routine in Chicago. About a year ago, a new attraction opened in Willis (formerly Sears) Tower, called "The Ledge". This is an adjunct to the "Skydeck" on the 103rd floor.

Naturally, I had to check it out for myself:

(Yes, those are my hiking boots)

My eventual goal was a return to Alaska; I checked out some lots there, looking to establish a Summer retirement home where it's not so oppressively hot. While en route to see one of them, I observed several killer whales in Valdez Bay.

Here's a picture of one, coming up for air:


Other than researching available real estate, I availed myself of the opportunity to complete a "set" of sorts. Having already ridden a Harley in 49 States, I rented one while I was in Alaska, seen here by "Horsetail Falls":

(Those falls are but a few miles outside of Valdez)

My final stop was Kodiak, Alaska...where I saw (among other things) a sea lion eating a fish in St. Paul Harbor:


The calamari at Henry's is awesome there, too.

All in all, a most excellent adventure...