"The hardest part I do is waiting to go," Nik Wallenda said after taking a stroll over the Chicago River on Sunday night.
About 50,000 spectators felt the same way, Nik - 600 or so feet below you.
It was quite the chilly wait just to see a tiny red dot inch across the skyline, but at least Sunday night wasn't capped off by watching a man fall to his death. It probably made for somewhat thrilling TV, but it wasn't nearly as captivating on the ground. Here's our recap of the event.
5:38 p.m.: Posted up at the corner of Wacker Drive and Wabash Avenue. If someone around here decided to sell mini-flasks of Fireball whiskey and peppermint schnapps, that person could retire comfortably tomorrow.
With about 25 minutes to go, crowd not as huge as I thought. At corner of Wacker and Wabash. pic.twitter.com/xjYL3ftFim
- Mick (@swasko) November 2, 2014
5:50 p.m.: Guy in a Green Bay Packers hat behind me is talking about his fantasy football lineup. He's not going to care in the slightest if this guy falls.
6:01 p.m.: "If I were Nik Wallenda, I would be stressed and throw up," I think to myself, as the official start time for the event passes.
Streets are closed now. It's a free-for-all and getting really crowded. #SkyscraperLivepic.twitter.com/3uQ1lWDBDa
- Mick (@swasko) November 2, 2014
6:07 p.m.: Wallenda trolls the entire crowd by prancing around a bit on the wire. Everyone whoops, hollers and takes horribly blurry photos. The actual walk won't start for more than an hour.
BREAKING: Man walks. pic.twitter.com/CkOxEa7eIR
- Mick (@swasko) November 3, 2014
6:09 p.m.: "I'm confused," the man next to me says.
6:33 p.m.: I begin to regret the tacos I ate at 2 a.m., and think about apologizing to the British people behind me.
6:55 p.m.: I announce to the crowd that I am a reporter, and several sources are reporting the walk won't start until 7:45. I fear for my life.
Just told the crowd about the rumored 7:45 start. #skyscraperlivehttps://t.co/BP7k0QA0ld
- Mick (@swasko) November 3, 2014
7:24 p.m.: "I would totally do that right now, 100 percent, if you gave me a parachute," the bro next to me says.
7:37 p.m.: Wallenda makes good on his threat to walk off the Marina City towers, the entire crowd cheers, then holds its breath and tries not to barf from the stress.
There we go. #SkyScraperLivepic.twitter.com/3QHLm98Ecz
- Mick (@swasko) November 3, 2014
7:43 p.m.: Wallenda breaks the unofficial world record for crossing the Chicago River without the use of a bridge. Everyone applauds and secretly is kind of wondering if this would have been better just to watch at home on TV with a stiff drink.
7:44 p.m.: Everyone collectively decides to get a different view. No one is trampled, that I am aware of.
8:02 p.m.: Walk No. 2 starts, and every resident of Marina City looks like they're about to fall off their balconies.
Want SO bad for one of these people to yell "get off my lawn!"pic.twitter.com/j8BirvMowO
- Mick (@swasko) November 3, 2014
8:05 p.m.: Cheers and applause ring out, and dozens of people desperately try to get on television as Wallenda completes the walk. This is what an entire city breathing a sigh of relief sounds like.
This is what a loud sigh of relief sounds like. #skyscraperlivehttps://t.co/gyVfDGWeNg
- Mick (@swasko) November 3, 2014
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