The Chainlink

Have you taken the Amtrak and Oakleaf trail from Chicago to Milwaukee to Harrington Beach?

Just curious if anyone has taken this trail and has any tips to offer about its condition, or any possible detours. I'm heading up that way later this month, and my partner and I aren't big fans of the crushed limestone trails, so we might be interested in trying to create a street route. We don't want to be on any major highways, though. If our train arrives in Milwaukee at 11:30 AM, is that a reasonable amount of time to get there, buy firewood, set up camp, etc.? We could leave earlier if necessary. 

Also, we're taking the Hiawatha Amtrak up there-- afaik, that's a line where you have to box up your bike and send it as checked baggage. Has anyone done that one this line before? The customer service hotline is unsurprisingly unhelpful on this matter, but I've taken my bike on Amtrak before with no problems. I don't want to encounter any unpleasant surprises, though. 

Thanks for any tips.

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Permalink Reply by Tank-Ridin' Ryan on August 12, 2010 at 3:46pm
Coming back from Milwaukee in April 2009, we got to the Amtrak station with about 10 minutes to board. I bought a box, turned my bars, took off my front wheel and stuffed my bike into the box (damn pedals wouldn't come off). Three of us were on the train in time with no problems as were our bikes which we reassembled in the bowels of Union Station.
Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on August 12, 2010 at 4:18pm
I rode this exact same route earlier this year and even camped at Harrington Beach. The Oakleaf and Ozaukee trails are all paved and good quality, and Harrington Beach is a nice park, except a lot of the campsites don't have any shade. Have fun.
Permalink Reply by heather s on August 12, 2010 at 4:48pm
Thanks to you both! I sort of remembered when traveling from Schenectady to Chicago, boxing my bike without removing the pedals, but it's hard to recall. I suppose we should get a pedal wrench anyhow. And very good to hear that the trail is paved, that helps some of my timing concerns. We got a hike-in campsite, so hopefully there will be some privacy. Er, I mean, shade.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on August 12, 2010 at 5:46pm
I suggest arriving early with your bike to amtrak. I barely made it with my bike on board a few weeks ago, and I got there 45 mins early. The staff was just out of it.

This was in DC.

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