Photos (and map) from the 2006 ride.
On January 14th, about 19 riders gathered in Daley Plaza between 9:30 (when they were supposed to be there) and 10am (when we finally gave up waiting for stragglers), and headed out on the first of what will hopefully be annual rides from Chicago to Munster, Indiana, home of Three Floyds brewery and brew pub. On the way down the Lakefront Path, a rider who had apparently heard about the ride but had better things to do called out, "Enjoy the beer!" The sun was shining and a strong wind was at our backs.
Six more riders were picked up along the way at Promontory Point in Hyde Park. Now 25 strong, the group took off through Jackson Park and out on to South Shore Drive.
At some point, the riders split up into two groups, one riding a bit faster. The first group made it over the Calumet River without a hitch, but the second group got caught waiting for a drawbridge to be raised. (I'm not 100% sure it was while crossing the Calumet, but that's the only bridge I recall.) Rumor is that somebody also got a flat, putting more distance between the first and second groups.
We made our way onto the Burnham Greenway, a fantastic trail with a few hairy street crossings. We were looking for Wolf Lake Road, and would have missed it if not for the sharp eyes of whomever was in the front of the pack. The road runs parallel to the trail, with a small, unmarked path connecting the two. Luckily, Bob Matter (who was integral in mapping the route) was waiting for us on Wolf Road, and in his bright yellow jacket, was spotted.
We took a pee and snack break (contrary to reports in Metromix, snacks were not provided, but a few people brought their own. A couple riders who had fallen behind caught up, and we debated waiting for the rest. Standing in the shade and not seeing them at all on the path convinced us to take off, and hope they managed to find Wolf Road, or an alternate.
Bob pointed out the causeway in Wolf Lake where Leopold and Loeb dumped the body of Bobby Franks, noting that the spot was and still is a good place to watch birds. I saw a big old white goose.
The route got a little complicated as we took to the streets of Hammond and Munster, so I'm very grateful Bob was along to make sure nobody missed any turns. If anybody wants to follow the route on his or her own, pay special attention to Sunnyside Avenue. It comes up quick, and there's no stoplight. Also, there's a grade-separated trail next to Manor Ave and continuing on Fisher St.
As we pulled onto Calumet, we could see the Munster water tower, an important landmark, as the brewery sits practically in the tower's shadow.
The brewery itself is housed in a very unremarkable building with a very unremarkable sign outside of the parking lot. There is, as is probably to be expected, no place to easily lock a bike, but we made do with the fence on top of the loading dock, and a couple of riders hitched their rides to an empty Three Floyds keg used for decoration in front of the brewpub.
We piled into the bar area and ordered beer and food, and one or two waves of riders (I was paying more attention to my beer and food than to my surroundings) pulled in within about half an hour. The place had 19 beers on tap, mostly Three Floyds, but also a few other good craft beers from elsewhere, including Arrogant Bastard and an IPA from Stone in San Diego. The food is what you'd probably expect from a brewpub menu (burgers, brats, soup and salad), but the place takes as much care in its food as its beer, and everything is fresh and good.
Only about half the group stuck around for the 3pm brewery tour (which was interesting, but maybe 20 minutes too long). The Three Floyds folks are very dedicated to making high quality craft beer, and they take a lot of pride in their operation.
The ride back was uneventful except for a minor hitch getting back onto Wolf Lake Road: The park which it passes through apparently closes at sunset, and the road is blocked off with a big cyclone fence. Boo! We were forced out onto a pretty busy highway populated by some impatient Indianans, but managed to get back by the lake within about half a mile, through a different entrance. I took a picture of the full moon over the lake (pretty amazing). T.C. had bought a growler for the road, which we cracked open and passed around for sustenance.
All in all, it was a great ride on a beautiful day, with a really fun bunch of riders. I hope we can do it again next year.