– standing proudly on the east bank of the Fox River near Geneva IL a mid Nineteenth Century Dutch mill offers an historic backdrop to my early morning ride along the Tri-City region between Elgin and Aurora. The all wood structure is fully functional driven from its fabric covered sails. This pre-industrial age technology was a stark contrast to the particle accelerator at nearby Fermilab with its circular Tevatron which runs its circular path around a prairie grassland.
Leadville | The prime destination last weekend was the old mining town of Galena. Historical seat of Joe Daviess Country and home of Ulysses S Grant. In the early C19th it rivaled Chicago in population and was the busiest steamboat hub north of St Louis.
It’s not IF it will happen, but WHEN | So this was the reason for shortening the weekend: I had an accident on the bike, the first serious one. At an intersection in deepest Illinois farmland as I was leading the group the route took a left turn at a Stop sign. As I rolled to a stop the bike behind me barreled into the rear of the Tiger. Next thing I knew it was a scattering of me and bikes. The Tiger is beat up superficially and I managed to ride it the 200 miles home last evening – I frankly don’t know how. Today I went to the ER. X-rays found 2 broken ribs, a fractured wrist and a crack at the tip of my ring finger. Splint, pain meds, then healing. Remember kids! All the gear all the time! I could have come off a lot worse! The ride to that point was marvelous!
Tiger Trail | the days riding around north east Illinois was enlightening. A good 150 miles of rural gravel roads crisscrossing Jo Daviess County. I learned to finally use the back brake on the loose surface; and to power through the looser gravel. The new tires performed exceptionally. The day (and weekend) were cut short… but we’ll get into that tomorrow…
