Fox River Trail in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago

This week we strapped the bikes on the car and went to the Chicago area to ride with my brother-in-law. I told him I could ride 30 miles in one day. So far, so good. But when we got there and I told him that I needed ice-cream and food in the middle of that 30 miles he had to begin planning all over again. A 30 mile ride through the forest preserve wasn't going to do that for me. The first evening we did go to the forest preserve, where we saw our first deer (drive to the city from the country to see the wild-life?!!!) but let me back up a minute. We made ourf irst rest stop at a second hand store! Then we rode around what I call my college! Actually it is Harper Community College, but I went there once for a bell choir workshop many years ago, so...it is MY college! Then...in the forest preserve near by we saw the deer! That ride was about 15 miles, including some very city miles on busy streets....did not like that! But it was a fun first day.

At supper that evening we decided on a plan for the next day...to go on the Fox River Trail from East Dundee to Geneva. There was a Dairy Queen at the beginning, which would also be the end, and a restaurant in Geneva right on the bike path. Sounded like a plan. Jan knows how I ride and we tried to explain to Mike that I don't go as fast as he does. He rides 50 miles at a time in just a few (maybe 3) hours. I go 9-10 miles an hour with the lunch break and a couple more pit stops! He said he was prepared.

We left home at 9:00 and got to the trail about 9:30. East Dundee is working at being a tourist area. Old buildings, antiques, farmer's market. The trail was great, blacktop, shady, along the river. Again, we see a deer, but by the time I get my camera out, on, focused and adjusted, of course it was gone. Hopefully I will get some pictures posted so I am not going to tell you all we saw. But as we began, Mike said, "Oh you might want to get prepared for a long hill before too long." What did that mean? So I was keeping an eye out. Directly across a wooden bridge, I saw it. I started up, but this was the first time I have given up. It was just too long and there was no running start! I walked, Jan felt sorry for me and walked and Mike waited at the top of the hill for us. We got to Geneva about 11:30. Two hours to go 17 miles...not bad for me. But that meant we were only half way!

The restaurant turned out to be a sandwich stand at the corner of a very busy high way, but we were tired, thirsty and hungry so we stopped anyway. it was really very pleasant as long as you ignored the traffic about 12 feet away! After we ate we realized we could have taken our lunch about 200 yards further and eaten by the river away from all that....oh well. Here we had tables, chairs and a bathroom! An hour later we were ready to hit the trail home.

This time we would be going into the wind. I was a little worried about my stamina. It didn't turn out quite as bad as I thought it might be because the trees kept the brunt of the wind from hitting us. So actually the trip home was just about the same...2 hours. And that hill - it was all down hill!!! And there wasn't an up! I hit my fastest speed - 26. Could have gone faster, but I was scared so I kept braking. Mike passed me at about 30 miles an hour. Then we hit this wooden bbbbbbbbbridge! We stopped several places to take some pictures and rest our butts. That was a lot longer than Mike had ever been on a bike! He was tired and sore! So was I, but I was expecting it.

At the end was the DQ. Jan wanted to put the bikes on the car first - but I vetoed. I wanted ice cream. Strawberry blizzard! Oh it was good and restful. Then we could put the bikes on the car. (which is still an unpleasant scene because we just can't seem to remember how we put them on the last time.)

So, am I losing weight? Well, not very quickly, but yes, I have lost 4 pounds this summer and I feel like I am in better shape. I do not even take my asthma medicine very regularly. I do when I am going to ride and when I am going to be around animals. I doubt my doctor would approve, but since he has moved 60 miles away, how is he going to know until I tell him. We are planning some more rides...maybe Springfield. I am at 256 miles logged so far! More next time!