Trekkers from San Francisco, Boston, New Jersey and Amherst travelled to Chicago today for the eve of the 1,000 Mile Trek. We gathered in the O’Hare airport, running from terminal to terminal to collect the group, then assembled bicycles while feasting on some satisfying bagel sandwiches. A train into the city dropped us off in the middle of the towering buildings in downtown Chicago where we cycled to a swanky Aloft Hotel located just blocks away from the Navy Pier. After some 19th floor swimming, we set out to the River Walk for some burgers by the water, and took an evening stroll through the pier. We all talked about the journey ahead, a 25-day trip from Chicago to NYC, following Great Lake cities along Lake Erie then branching off to the Erie Canalway Trail towards Rochester, then tracing the Finger Lake region southbound before a final southeast stretch to Manhattan. Everyone talked about what they were looking forward to along the way and we devised a plan for certain shenanigans we will embark on in each state we enter (cartwheels across state lines, perhaps?) The rest of the crew arrives tomorrow, and the nine of us will discover the magnificent features of the Windy City on two wheels before our eastbound adventure begins Wednesday!
