Late enough start today, though Silver and the Big Man do go off for a manly morning run. Where yesterday was bitter and snow-dusted, today we enjoy glorious Midwestern sun.

Today we begin in earnest our uneasy relationship with cheese, starting with lunch at a local Mexican joint (very good). Then it is time to spend some shoe leather as we walk all the way east to the shores of Lake Michigan. It’s a big lake, there’s no denying it.

We wander across to the Field Musuem for some culture, but think better of it. We then do a lap of Soldier’s Field, home of the Chicago Bears (Go Bears), couldn’t find the way in so go to the pub(s) instead.

Dinnertime, we pit our collective will against the largest ‘stuffed pizza’ at the famous Giordanno’s. When it arrived we, wrapped warm in our hubris, where a mite underwhelmed. ‘I reckon we could knock off one 50% bigger’ I suggest to Silver. He agrees. The wise head of the Big Man looks up. ‘Lads, we’re only half way through the first slice…’ How right he was.

These things are chiefly cheese, maybe two inches thick with pie crust bases and paper thin crusts. Halfway through conversation stopped and the sweats began. Looks of fear passed over all faces but the Big Man’s own. The Yankee gets his head down and races to the finish line, where he collapses. The Big Man puts it away, then Andthesea slowly summits. Then Silver crams it down leaving only me and the final slice.

The forces of lactose assail me. I slip in and out of consciousness. But it gets down and stays down. We have won.

‘Nice work guys’ says Sean, our high camp waiter. He then informs us that two high school kids (quite slim) had knocked off the very same pizza pie on their own three days back, somewhat undercuting our triumph…

*

Back home we make ready for another big ‘un. We have sourced some ‘Four Lokos’, an evil combination of energy drink and alcopop (very strong), which apparently has, quite literally, killed folks. However, just after the Big Man and Andthesea had sunk most of theirs the jet-lag hits back, ably supported by the vengeful cheese.

The night out is postponed until tomorrow, to celebrate the Eagle’s arrival. The Big Man, still levitating, endures a significantly caffeine-troubled slumber. Others however, including myself, slept like men long dead.