Return to Starved Rock

Gathering at church with Pastor Eun-Hye for the Blessing of the Bikes.

Early this past Friday after a great week of Vacation Bible School (and with the songs stuck firmly in our heads) the PUMC Cycling Group gathered for our second annual biking/camping trip.  Again we traveled from Plainfield to Starved Rock State Park along the I & M Canal Trail.  Like last year, Pastor Eun-Hye was kind enough to join us for the Blessing of the Bikes, a gesture greatly appreciated before the 70-mile trip.  The riders consisted of Eric L, Eric W, and Tim, all survivors from last year, plus new additions Larry and Melissa, neither of whom had previously ridden that far in one day.  At the risk of ruining the suspense, we happily reveal that all of us completed the trip with no problem!

Here's the trip log:

The first and key difference this year was the vastly cooler weather.  Unlike last year's journey, which unfortunately happened to fall during Chicago's second-hottest three day stretch on record, the high temperatures this year topped out in the mid 80s, a full 20 degrees cooler than a year ago.  There was even a brief period early on when a couple of us thought we might be a little chilly!  As the day went along there were a few sunny patches where the ride got a bit warm, but most of the trail under the canopy of trees almost felt air-conditioned.  Not bad at all for mid-July!

The trip itself followed the same route as last year, departing from the church (5 minutes early) and heading out of town mainly along Drauden, River, and Shepley Roads before reaching the I & M Canal Trail at the point where it crosses under Interstate 55.  It would be nice to have the option of following bike paths for the entire route (especially along narrow Drauden Road) but fortunately the traffic was not too bad at that time of the morning.

Enjoying the quiet morning along Shepley Road before reaching the I & M Canal Trail.

Our first stop of the day was the Walgreens at Jefferson and River Road, about 8 miles or 45 minutes into the trip.  We refilled our drinks and replaced the VBS songs in our brains with cheesy 80s ballads.  Not to fear, by afternoon the VBS music would again dominate our inner soundtracks.

The Subway in Channahon at Canal and Eames (Hwy 6) was our second stop of the day after another 8 miles.  Last year's riders remembered the relief we felt upon relaxing in the cool air-conditioning, lingering as long as possible.  This year we hardly bothered to go inside except to use the restrooms and top off our water.  The rest of the time we just hung out on the pleasant shady sidewalk.

Tim is either refilling his Gatorade bottle or making a plea to an unimpressed Melissa.

 

The 15-mile stretch between Channahon and Morris was our third and longest stage of the morning.  As seen in the picture to the right, we tried to be as efficient as possible by lining up and drafting behind each other, taking turns keeping Larry up front in the most difficult position.  :-)

Our plan was to stop in Morris for lunch, but to our great surprise we ended up getting to town 30 minutes ahead of schedule.  Fortunately most of the restaurants opened by 11 AM so we were able to find a place to eat.  After wandering through town for a while, our eventual choice was Ebbey George's Bar and Grill at Liberty and Jefferson.  The waitress upon seeing our tight bright outfits promptly posed the question, "Where did you park your bikes?"  Tim just as quickly replied, "Bikes???  We always dress this way."

After lunch in Morris, pleased to be almost halfway done!

Heading out of Morris we had to take our first detour of the day.  Record flooding this past April had caused a washout of the trail at the aquaduct over Nettle Creek near Gebhard Woods State Park.  Work was underway to repair it, but fortunately we were able to get on the trail west of the washout after following some quiet city streets.  

The condition of the trail in general was our biggest question prior to the trip.  The flooding had washed out more than just that section.  In fact, a good portion of the trail was officially closed.  The concern was such that I (Eric L) had mapped an alternate route along quiet farm roads through Plattville, Newark, and Norway that completely avoided the I & M Canal Trail.  On July 4th I even did a test ride from Ottawa to Norway.  As it turns out, that route would also be feasible, and probably even enjoyable.  Very RAGBRAI-ish.  There is very little traffic on most of those roads, but the drawback is the complete exposure to sun and wind, and the far fewer choices of places to stop.  For being so close to sprawling Chicago, that area is surprisingly desolate!

Despite the contingency planning, we elected to stick to the trail after Larry very generously spent the 4th of July weekend exploring the closed portion between Morris and Utica.  He was able to get all the way through with only minor issues (Thank you, Larry!!), though we do understand why the DNR would not feel comfortable declaring it ready to go.

After lunch we again recalled last year's trip as we rode the 11 miles from Morris to Seneca.  With our bellies foolishly full of Italian food and with the heat in full force, that by far had been the most difficult stage a year ago.  We were a bit smarter this time and didn't eat a huge lunch.  This year we also realized some of that section is totally flat or even slightly uphill, in contrast to the overall trip which by virtue of following rivers is a very gradual decline.  So there are multiple reasons to be happy upon finally reaching the Casey's in Seneca.

Melissa was so happy to reach Seneca that she prayed to Mecca.  Or maybe she was stretching.

About 6 miles west of Seneca there is an optional stop at Marseilles before going another 7 miles into Ottawa.  Last year the Marseilles stop turned out to be quite mandatory and we ended up staying there at least half an hour.  This year we elected to stop again, but only for a quick bathroom break and water refill.  We were really getting ahead of schedule by this point!

After suffering through last year's heat, this year we arranged
for a special delivery of ice upon arriving in Marseilles.

Between Marseilles and Ottawa I learned that taking a picture of someone riding under a fallen tree while also riding rapidly toward that same tree will soon result in the person behind you asking, "Did someone lose their visor?"  It was a rather close call.

Heading across the Fox River into Ottawa.

Probably the favorite and most-anticipated stop of the day (besides Duffy's Tavern at the end) was the Triple J ice cream shop in Ottawa.  Not only do they have a wide selection of great ice cream treats but there is the handy bank thermometer across the street where we obtained proof of our idiocy resilience last summer.

This year poor sleeveless Eric W was a bit chilly.

Last year the grass (and Jon) were a bit wilted.

The 10-mile portion of the trail between Ottawa and Utica was by far the roughest and most in need of additional repairs.  It was certainly passable and didn't really slow us down too much, but a couple of spots required a quick detour.  We were just glad it wasn't worse!

Piles of new rock waiting to be spread along the trail are a little challenging to ride over.

The most severe washout we encountered east of Utica had been mitigated by a makeshift footbridge.

The last mile or so of the trail into Utica is a paved road where even after 65 miles it is hard not to start riding fast in anticipation of being done...or in anticipation of a cold brew at Duffy's.

On the home stretch into Utica!

The greatest moment of the day came just as we were arriving in Utica and unloading ourselves from our bikes.  In addition to all of us being thrilled at successfully completing a great challenge, Larry checked his email and learned that he received a job offer from the company where he had interviewed the week before!  Suddenly we were blessed to have two great things to celebrate!

Larry learning the great news about his job offer!

Celebrating at Duffy's Tavern!

After relaxing at Duffy's and taking the edge off our soreness...there was still a bit of riding to be completed.  The cars had been left at Starved Rock Lodge, so down the road and across the river we went. 

The obligatory "This is so cool to be riding a bike over the Illinois River!" picture.

It was also great to see Eric W's family waiting for him at the Starved Rock Lodge.  They were in the area to do some RV camping with family, so Eric camped with us Friday night then joined them Saturday morning.

It appears Elizabeth is reminding Eric how to get off a bike after 70 miles,
while Claire is saying, "You rode HOW far??"

Two girls happy to see their father arriving safely!

The final distance from Plainfield to the Starved Rock campground was right around 71 miles.  It ended up feeling much easier than last month's rainy and muddy 40-mile trip near New Glarus, Wisconsin, given the nicely packed limestone trail and the pleasant weather.

The final stats, according to Garmin.

Eric W generously volunteered to do the food shopping and prepare a great dinner!
(He also planned to cook breakfast, but raccoons stole our food overnight.)

In case anyone reading this thinks you have to be a die-hard seasoned cyclist to ride 70 miles, please realize this isn't the case.  The motivations for such a trip are fun, fellowship, and fitness, which means building stronger relationships between church members through shared struggle and achievement.  Please read what first-time participant and relatively new church member Melissa had to say about the ride:

It was great!  After Wisconsin, this trip was a breeze.  Anyone can bike this trip - anyone.  I started training in January on a stationary bike once a week.  I started at 20 min and increased my time by 2 min each week.  In May, I started riding more frequently, but never more than 1 hour 3 times a week. I only did 2 longer rides: 30 miles and 40 miles, both in June.  This was while working full time and planning a wedding.  So really, anyone can do this!  

I really enjoyed being outside, especially on the "air conditioned" path.  The scenery was beautiful.  The breaks were just frequent enough that you never rode more than an hour at a time, which was helpful both mentally and physically.  There was time on the trip where I had alone moments to reflect on the beauty of nature that God has created, as well as how he influences me in my life.  I looked to him when I was tired and my knees were hurting, and prayed for strength to complete the journey, which he generously provided.  But most important to me was the fellowship that the biking group and this trip provided. Because even though I can appreciate God and pray to God on my own, I cannot experience fellowship without other Christians.  And this trip, this biking group, does that.  

Fellowship allows us to build lasting relationships and makes us stronger.  I'm grateful for the opportunity to participate in this fellowship, and am thankful for the others that are willing to participate as well.  I look forward to more rides in the future and will definitely do this one again!

Finally, borrowing a bit of footage from last year's VBS, here is the result of having those great songs stuck in your head during a bike ride:

Trip to New Glarus, Wisconsin

Last summer after our Cycling Group trip to Starved Rock, group member Jason suggested we plan an outing to the New Glarus area of Wisconsin.  Ken and Pat also have talked fondly of riding in Wisconsin and thought that would be fun to do.  Attractions included the Swiss-German town of New Glarus itself, the New Glarus brewery, the quarter-mile long Stewart Tunnel, and the beautiful Wisconsin countryside.  We didn't manage to get the trip planned for last summer, but we thought it would be a great warm-up prior to our return to Starved Rock later this summer.  Unfortunately, neither Jason nor Ken nor Pat were available this time, but we did manage to gather four adventurous souls (Melissa, Tim, Larry, and Eric L) to make the trip this past Saturday.

Given the 104 degree heat during last year's Starved Rock trip, we wondered what kind of weather we might encounter on this year's first big trip.  As it turned out, we determined pretty early in the day that heat stroke was not going to be a concern.  Pouring rain during the car trip was our first good clue.  Actually, our first good clue should have been the forecast from our resident meteorologist the day before.  To quote: "I do think we will end up getting wet, but I'm hoping it won't be a washout."

What does that even mean??

Upon arriving in Monticello, our intended starting point, the first task was to track down the $4 state trail passes.  If you get caught riding without a trail pass, Wisconsin DNR will charge you a $5 fine and then $4 for the pass itself.  You can round that up to an even $10 if the DNR officer is especially polite.

Apparently the Citgo gas station was the only place in Monticello we could buy the pass, but Citgo was sold out.  The very friendly and helpful Citgo cashier apologized ("Sorry bout dat but feel free ta yoosar bubbler!") and suggested we try Gempeler's Supermarket,  home of the award-winning Alpine Boy Sausage.  So we drove over to Gempeler's.  It turned out Gempeler's maybe might have sold the passes at one time, but didn't anymore.  The very friendly and helpful Gempler's cashier apologized and suggested we try the Citgo gas station.  So our initial impression of Wisconsin was that their state trail passes are a considerable nuisance, but their cashiers are very friendly and helpful.

We decided to drive over to the Monticello trailhead, thinking surely you could self-register for passes there, considering both the Sugar River Trail and the Badger State Trail run right past that spot.  Alas, no.  So being a law-abiding group (mostly due to the participation of a Plainfield Park District commissioner), and considering the fact that it was still raining, we elected to drive up to New Glarus and look for passes there.

At New Glarus we were pleased to learn that you could in fact self-register at the Sugar River trailhead.  Doing some quick math, we determined that starting our trip in New Glarus, riding through the Stewart Tunnel over to Belleville, and then heading back to New Glarus for lunch, would give us about the same pre-lunch distance as if we started in Monticello.  And as a bonus, we would have a vehicle in which to stash any purchases made in New Glarus.

Taking advantage of a brief break in the rain, we headed southeast out of New Glarus along the Sugar River Trail toward Exeter Crossing Road, via which we planned to cross over to the Badger State Trail and continue northeast through the Stewart Tunnel and into Belleville.  We quickly concluded that proceeds from state trail pass sales must be used primarily to pay DNR officers to enforce compliance with state trail pass regulations...because we saw no evidence that these funds were used to maintain the trails.  Then again, we saw no DNR officers, either.

Larry ponders the abyss.

The first part of the ride was pretty slow along the soft, sandy/muddy path, but before long we were at Exeter Crossing Road and making our way over to the Badger State Trail.  Then soon after getting on the Badger State Trail we reached the Stewart Tunnel which was exactly as promised:  huge, dark, and scary.  After just a few moments of hesitation we pulled out our flashlights and headed into the abyss.  The neat thing about this tunnel is that it curves, so for most of the trip through it there is no proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel."  Without a flashlight it is mostly pitch black, with just the faintest hint of a glow from far up ahead.  Tim and Eric discovered this by riding without flashlights on the way back through..."steering toward the glow and hoping not to hit the sides."  (This being a church cycling group, there's our spiritual metaphor.)

We made it through!

Puddles between Belleville and the Stewart Tunnel.

After the tunnel we continued into Belleville, getting there just as the rain started up again.  After a brief snack and a quick purchase of camera batteries, we headed back toward the tunnel.  The rain was falling pretty steadily by that point, and then we heard a noise that prompted some of us to ask, "What's that sound?"  Apparently some of us had forgotten what it is like to be in the woods about to get absolutely dumped on.  The sound a cloudburst makes in the tree canopy before reaching ground level is something to behold.  For the next 20 minutes we enjoyed the convenience of drinking the rain straight off our dripping bike helmets, saving us the trouble of reaching for our water bottles.

Returning along Exeter Crossing Road, enjoying the beautiful countryside after the rain.

We managed to make it back through the tunnel, back along Exeter Crossing Road, and back into New Glarus.  After a brief walk around to explore the unique town, and assuming that most fine-dining establishments would prefer not to deal with our muddy, dripping selves, we settled on Ticino Pizzeria which according to our waitress features "traditional Swiss sausage poppers invented by our chef."  The food and fresh New Glarus beer turned out to be delicious, and hopefully the butt-shaped water marks we left on their wooden booths didn't stay around for too long.

Swiss United Church of Christ. New Glarus, WI.

After lunch at Ticino's we headed across the street to the Maple Leaf Cheese and Chocolate Haus where we gained a special appreciation for the Wisconsin dairy industry (on many levels) but managed to leave with only 3/4 of a pound of fudge.  We were grateful to have a vehicle in which to stash our purchase.

Running just a wee two hours behind schedule, still wanting to get in a ride of 40 miles, encouraged by the improving weather, and already fortified with New Glarus beer, we elected to skip the brewery visit and head straight back to the trail.  We took off toward Monticello, staying on the Sugar River trail most of the way until it crossed with the Badger State Trail.  We then followed that trail until we determined we had gone far enough to make 40 miles by the time we got back to New Glarus.

A small obstacle along the Badger State Trail.

The late afternoon turned out to be beautiful, but admittedly the long day of riding in the mud and rain was beginning to take its toll.  The best way to understand the feeling is to imagine riding on a beach for 40 miles.  The trails weren't quite as soft as sand, but pavement or packed limestone would have been a whole lot easier on the legs.  In the end, we achieved our goals of enjoying the beautiful Wisconsin countryside, visiting the unique town of New Glarus, sampling the tasty New Glarus beer, and getting in a good warm-up ride before the longer Starved Rock trip.  Fun, fitness, and fellowship!  And since the most fun part of the trip was riding in the pouring rain, we now know the meteorologist meant: "It's gonna rain, but let's go anyway!"

We hope Melissa enjoyed her first major ride with the group.

And here's the trip log: