Illinois State Beach Bike Ride

October 26 - 27: Group bike ride to Illinois State Beach Park and back organized by Out Our Front Door.  

Saturday, October 26 Buckingham Fountain to Illinois State, 54 miles

Out Our Front Door organized this ride to begin at Buckingham Fountain, overnight at Illinois State Beach in Zion, IL and return the next day to the northwest side of the city.  We did the first day ride and detoured off the second day (routing to our house in Buffalo Grove).  

Below is an overview of the two day map.  On day 1 we rode along the lake from the green marker up to the state park, near the Wisconsin state line.  

Here is our starting point, Buckingham Fountain.  Julie is in the right side of the pic. 

Looking at the city before we take off...

First rest stop was at an old lighthouse in Evanston, IL.  

The group milling around the lighthouse.  

The second rest stop was at an old water tower in Ft. Sheridan, IL.  Here we are beneath the water tower.  

The end destination was the campground at Illinois State Beach park...

But due to the rain, our end destination was the hotel at Illinois State Beach park.

Day 1 mileage: 53 miles. 

Day 2 took us from Illinois State Beach, north into Wisconsin, west along the state line and south down the Des Plaines River trail.  We split from the group in Libertyville, IL.  Below is a map of our route (it shows part of day 1 ride too). 

Sunrise over Lake Michigan. 

Our group ready to leave the state park Sunday morning.  

Riding up the shore of Lake Michigan through the north section of Illinois State Beach park.  

Sunday's riding group...picture of people taking pictures of each other.  

Close to Wisconsin we cut through a huge marina.  Here is a picture of the Sea Dog.  Notice Julie in the picture for a size comparison.  

Going west through Wisconsin we crossed the "subcontinental divide" (which I didn't even know existed).  

Day 2 rest stop in Independence Grove: 

Much of the Des Plaines River trail was flooded south of Libertyville.  This ultimately lead to a detour to Milwaukee Ave.  The trails have nice signs to let you know if the trail is open or not...unfortunately they are not up to date.  (Notice trail directly behind the sign). 

Day 2 mileage: 54 miles

THE END!

Battle to Indiana Dunes Bike Trip

We joined the Adventure Cycling Association and Out Our Front Door for a 2 day bike adventure from Chicago to the Indiana Dunes and back.

Day 1 Map: On Tour Brewing to Dunewood Campground

Erick checking in:

Pregame speech and instructions: 

Everyone is ready to go...

This is the starting group, lots of bike gear, different bikes and different people.  The group soon spread out and we didn't see most people until the campground (can you find any of my party??):

On the road!

Photo Credit: Glen Schneider

Best skyline in the world:

Photo Credit: Mark Madsen

We had some rest stops at various Chicago Park District structures:

RVs and wildlife along I-90 near Hammond, IN.

Jules on the Erie Lackawanna Trail (northwest Indiana):

Turtles on a log....

Part of the Erie Lackawanna Trail was set up for a triathlon honoring the military (I think).  The had about 1/2 mile of flags:

Photo Credit: Kate Kliner

Waiting for a train...

...with some cool machinery: 

Nice art work near Hammond, IN.

Cool hardware store.  I looked it up when I got home and it says it has been closed since 2009 (?)

78.36 miles on the day!

Day 2 Map: Dunewood Campground back to On Tour Brewing via a more industrial route:

I forget which bike path this was...but it was nice:

Day 2 took us through the gas plants and steel mills under the Skyway:

Erick and Andy posing by the beautiful scenery: 

Some of the group riding through the BP plant:

Photo Credit: Alex Shaffer

Back in Chicago, waiting for a drawbridge at 95th St.  Many sailboats were making their way to Lake Michigan for the summer. That is Andy and Erick waiting near the bridge. 

Back in the city: 

Day 2 mileage:

At the finish line (left to right: Andy, Erick, Jules, me):

Hockey bag framed with hockey sticks

A Christmas present for my niece and nephews.  I took a few old hockey bags from my brother and a few of his old hockey sticks to make some wall hangings.

I cut these "swaths" out of old hockey bags. 

On the left is one of the swatchs stapled to plywood and stuffed with "Poly-fil."

The sticks that will become the frames. 

Poly-fil for pillow effect. 

The finished products. 

Muskegon Lumberjacks bag framed by game used Koho stick. 

Muskegon Lumberjacks bag framed by UIC #27 Titan stick

College of Dupage ("C.O.D") bag framed by UIC #27 Titan stick