as journaled by Brittany Koch
Trial Run to Shabbona Woods Day 2 of 2 (27 miles return trip)
10:52
Departure
11:59
Stopped for lunch. Ambria Wilson is traveling back with us on her own bike. The Wilsons also grabbed the trailer I had yesterday (totally lifesavers!), so I’m hauling the Burley Mommy had yesterday. We’re hoping less weight will help her pick up the pace a little.
We’re at a place called Wolf Lake, It has a beautiful view, even if all the bathrooms are closed! We passed through her on Day 1 – the exit gate was closed so we edned up going through a tiny dirt path on one side. Not fun with the trailers, let me tell you.
It’s open today, though and there are a lot of other people here taking advantage of the space.
13:40
An ice cream, water, and bathroom stop at a Burger King has deteriorated into equipment failure. Go figure. Hilariously, it’s due to Daddy’s bike falling over into Mommy’s, causing her gear shifter thingy rotated on it’s axis or something like that. I can’t be entirely sure.
15:09
Rainbow Beach Park is, apparently, home to a fascinating and incredibly hospitable group of men who meet there on certain days to hang out, play handball, and offer food and drink to random families who pull up on their bikes and ask where they could find the bathroom.
Daddy’s been treated to a beer or two and is, as the token extravert of the family, making conversation with our hosts and ferreting out all the best stories. Everyone has been offered hotdogs and the younger boys have also connived some grilled chicken for themselves.
Oh yeah, did I mention these guys a grilling a huge variety of foodstuffs outside? They’re awesome.
16:31
Snack break. We’re on the lakefront near Soldier Field – the last leg of our trip home.
17:45
Arrived home. Somewhat exhausted. But we did it. Spent time debriefing and making notes for our big trip.
Bike Configurations
Jeff – tandem w/ Cora or Elise, trailer bike w/ Caleb, burley
Angela – bike, trailer bike w/ Lydia,
Brittany – bike, burley*
Joshua – bike, seat w/ David, burley
Ambria – bike
Elise/Cora – bike or tandem, switching off
*Angela also rode with the burley for select portions of the day’s trip, but Brittany took the lion’s share of the route.