Team Fernandez Bike Blog 2010

The Chicago Lakefront Trail provides access to all of the action on the Chicago waterfront. With only a few hours to see the town, getting around by bike was an excellent choice. Chicago appears to be another of the many US cities rushing to embrace cycling. There are bike lanes around much of the downtown areas and it was easy to find attractions. Maps are posted along the trail and there was more than one station in the busy area with bike welcoming people offering bike information and complementary bike maps. I’m confident this is also encouraged by the local tourism industry as there are numerous opportunities to rent all sorts of pedaled vehicles, including 4+ seater four wheeled family machines!

I am particularly jealous of one feature of the trail where a designated swimming lane is marked out for many pool lengths along the trail. This provides a one stop opportunity for swimming, biking, and running. I was also impressed that many of the beaches and other waterfront features in many cities along the lakeshore are free and open to the public with minimal limitations on use. There are many well maintained facilities, such as public restrooms and shower houses. Most suprising of all, many of these locations are not at all crowded.

Today is a travel day. I will be home for a week before my bike catches back up with me. Time for a break?

The Hart-Montague is the 22 mile paved result of Michigan’s first rails to trails initiative. The trail is typical of all rail trails in my experience. There is almost no perceptible grade for it’s entirety and the terrain is mostly wooded excepting several sections of agriculture and village centers. Eateries with access to trailside land distract riders with signs advertising charming establishment names and all manner of people fuel. Among these, one farm store and deli about halfway along the trail distinguishes itself with a well kept property, hayride style farm tours, and a sustaining clientele of which bikers are only a minority. There are much appreciated restroom facilities at multiple points along the trail.

After a morning swim in the lake and a trail walk at the camp, we made our way to the Montague trailhead, within sight of the world’s largest weathervane. It was an overcast morning with intermittent rainshowers. These conditions kept the trail mostly quiet and I rolled through multiple mile sections without encountering a road crossing or another human. Of the towns along the trail, I most enjoyed discovering New Era, home of signs announcing “Welcome to New Era” and the site of the former “Plan B Bar & Grill” Must be Michigan’s most progressive town… The northern end of the trail itself is unremarkable. A path continues a mile further to downtown Hart, but having no business there I turned around and made my way back.