Thread by @greenfieldjohn

I’m leaving Chicago’s Uptown nabe to bike to the closest #WaffleHouse in Avon, Indiana, outside Indianapolis. 70 miles to ride tonight to a bachelor party in the Indiana Dunes, where I’ll spend the weekend. It’s going to be a long night, but it’s a familiar route on trails.

That last place was Jake’s Pup in the Ruf, specializing in broasted (pressure-fried) chicken.

Chicago’s Lakefront Trail is super busy today thanks to the gorgeous weather. Good to see that the separate pedestrian path south of Fullerton Avenue is repaired and re-opened.

The city is looking pretty today.

My first time experiencing the new bike-through bridge houses on the Navy Pier Flyover bike-ped bridge in person - pretty cool.

One of the nicest skyline views is by the Shedd Aquarium.

An elegant bike-ped bridge at 35th Street.

Here’s the historic 63rd St., Beach House, nicely illuminated.

I’ve got fried food on the brain, so I’m going to detour off the lakefront soon and head south on Jeffery Boulevard towards a dinner stop.

I’m in the South Shore neighborhood. As I stop to take a photo of this cool Mural, a nice lady says hello and hands me a business card for the Japanese Buddhist sect Soka Gakkai. I already know all about that organization!
newcity.com/2012/12/06/cul…

Another attractive mural at Horace Mann academy, 81st and Jeffery.

New Life Christian Ministry, 82nd and Jeffery, has a memorable A-frame building.

OK, if I don’t stop taking photos of cool stuff, I’m never gonna get to dinner, let alone the dunes.

Stopped at Heine’s, 104th and Torrence, and picked up and excellent fried chicken dinner and a bottle of hot sauce for the guys. Munched it on a bench outside a nearby motorcycle club HQ.
#IconicCHIRestaurants

OK, 48 miles to go, no sleep until the dunes…

Just entered Indiana, and I’m riding on the causeway bike path across Wolf Lake, in view of casino and steel mills. It’s a little spooky, in a good way. 43 miles to go.

Here’s a photo of the scene.

Making my way southeast through Hammond, Indiana. There’s a decent network of side paths and bike lanes. I’m even riding in a green bike lane right now.

Here’s a church in a geodesic dome. 38 miles to go.

I’m on the Erie Lackawanna trail heading south east now. Talk about eerie, check out this tunnel under I-94. 35 miles to go, so I’m at the halfway point.

I’m in Griffith, Indiana, heading on streets towards the oak savanna Trail. As I stop to re-fold my map, a guy in a hoodie cruises buy him an electric bike and beep the horn and says, “How’s it goin’, bud?” 30 miles to go.

On the Oak Savannah Trail now, a very natural setting. It’s pretty dark but I saw a deer. 25 miles to go, spirits are good.

Leaving Hobart, Indiana, where the routing for the Oak Savannah Trail was pretty confusing in the dark. Here’s a well situated bike shop next to the trail heading northeast out of town. 19 miles to go.

Heading NE on the Prairie Duneland trail. I was getting a little tired but then I put on the first Chicago Transit Authority album and it’s helping me to stay motivated and ride a little faster. I should’ve packed some sugary snacks though. Just salty cashews. 10 miles to go.

Made it to Hwy 12, main road through the dunes. The crushed lime stone trail that parallels it is flooded so Iwill have to take the road but I’ve got a safety vest. Found a $.50 soda machine. This room temperature Coke will give me the boost I need to make the last 7 miles.

You mean I could’ve just ridden the train here?!

Just kidding. I made it! Thanks for playing along at home; your “likes” helped keep me going. Now it’s definitely time for some whiskey and a soak in the hot tub...