Historical Route Re-Visited

This is what is left of the Quarry on Blackjack Rd.

Going up Blackjack rd at 4 mph.

Downtown Hanover

Making it to the Mississippi River

Rte 84 N. along Mississippi

The gates at Galena,

Place where you dry your feet

In Lanark, IL.

Rte 64 in the a.m.

A very long time ago a bunch of us got together and made a historical ride from Hinsdale, IL. to Galena, IL. I don't remember the exact year but it was in the early 90's. Only two of us made it all the way since the total mileage for the day was 175 miles. It was one of the hardest rides I have ever done. The flatness of the terrain was tolerable until we hit the Mississippi and then is when the hills started. Our last leg of the ride was Blackjack rd. with almost 17 miles of leg crunching hills. A 42x25 was my lowest gear on the old Gitane Reynolds 501. My friend was riding a Peugeot and had very few miles on his new bike.

I had discouraged him from coming on this ride since he had not ridden for many years. He insisted that he would make it and finally we had agreed that he should join in. The other two riders dropped off in Polo, IL and spent the night there. My friend suffered all the way and rolled into Galena glorious and full of pain. I was very proud of him. We went out for Pizza and then went back to the motel to sleep like cadavers. The next day we started back. We were short of making all the way back but got caught in storms and then finally by dark. With no lights and with 40 miles to go we called in a ride. We have never forgotten our historical ride to Galena. It is one of those things that keeps our friendship. Many times the distance and our schedules keeps us from communicating but I always remember that day.

I had been brewing this idea to revist the historical ride and yesterday was the day to do it. Rich had volunteered to pick me up so it was up to me to make it out there. I started at 630 am and loaded up the Ira Ryan and just pointed west and gave it all . I road through the following towns.

Clare

Esmond

Kings

Oregon

Mt Morris

Lanark

Mt. Carrol

Savanna

Hannover

Galena

I had a cross wind all the way to the River and then the wind shifted and had a headwind from the north. Blackjack rd. broke my legs as I ran out of gear with a 34x26 compact. I saw ghosts of my friends riding in front of me and I kept hearing my friend talking to me as I pressed on the pedals. I made the last hill and saw the flood gates in Galena. I felt lonely and strange being there. I felt lonely the whole way there and the only company was my little mp3 player.

I would like to thank my friend for engraving such a great memory in my head. I hope to ride with you soon again.

Thank you Rich for driving all the way out there to pick me up. Thanks to the wife for pushing me to get this ride done.

Total for the day: 125 miles.

1/2 bottle Hammer nutrition

2 bottles of Perpetuem

1 oven roasted chicken breast

12oz Coke

1 bag of Ruffles

1 stick beef jerky

1 banana

50oz of water

20 0z Americano with 3 shots (recovery drink)

out,

Ari