would like to make this a 3-day-er so the bones can relax a bit longer. lets nail down some dates.
Slingshot via metra to Joliet. google maps proposed route. ~62 miles along the I&M canal trail that follows the Des Plaines and Illinois Rivers, and of course, the canal and is almost entirely off roads. there is a shortcut that can shave 3 miles but takes ya off the I&M trail.
googledoc link for reservations
rsvp's will be made for commitment purposes and site reservations via googledoc/paypal.
mules are welcome!
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we need to finalize a few details, and coordinate the mules...
just found out my monday vacation request got denied :-(
karlene and hector....are you still coming back sunday evening or monday morning? and do u have space for 1 extra?
i prob would need sunday evening since my days start at 8 am sharp so lemme know....thanks!
Yes, details. Amy is having me carry some stuff up for her. Anyone else need stuff driven down? What time are people planning on getting there?
is there metra for sunday night in case no ride back? Tried to follow the earlier discussion but i am still confused...
I am returning to the city
Yes. Sunday trains leave Joilet for Chicago every couple hours at 25 minutes after the hour - 8:25AM, etc.
http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/...
Amy Y said:
is there metra for sunday night in case no ride back? Tried to follow the earlier discussion but i am still confused...
I am returning to the city
thanks S for the offer. Check your message for contacting for muling :-)
hey amy -- sorry for the delayed response! we moved over the weekend and i haven't had reliable access to the interwebs... if we come this weekend we can definitely bring you and your bike back with us on sunday evening. but we're feeling a little overwhelmed by all the moving related stuff, and may decide to bail at the last minute so we can stay home and unpack :-( i'll post again on friday night to confirm, but hopefully we can make it!
we are catching the 8:30 train. we should leave my place no later than 8am, or meet at lasalle station shortly thereafter. this will give us plenty of time to get to the station and buy tickets. you need to buy tickets at the station or accept the $2+ surcharge on the train. we will arrive in joliet at 9:55. the next train isnt till 10:30/11:55. the station is at 414 S. LaSalle Street Chicago. im at 1329 w grand ave, chicago.
for the return trip, we will catch either the 4:20, the 5:11, 6:15 or 7:05, with a 1.5hr trip back to the city.
please coordinate with suchandra if anyone else wants to bring stuff via mule. lindsey (you'll meet her, she is an awesome girl) offered to take some things, but we would need to have that at my place by friday morning. we dont have a lot of room, tho. please coordinate that with me.
we should coordinate foodstuffs, we need to decide if we want to buy grillables locally, each man/woman for themself, pizza order, going out to eat...whatever. i am bringing a few freezedried camping meals for myself, but i dont anticipate that being all im eating. i would love to grill over the fire. who's got the coffee?
here are the directions... its only 2.6 miles to the i&m canal trail from the station. a turn by turn spreadsheet from the map is attached below.
here is a map of the campgrounds...
alcohol is proibited, so, you know, be discrete with beer, flasks are easiest. DNR loves to give tickets for boozing, the person registered with the campsite is responsible for it, not the person caught. just dont get caught!
starved rock is pretty...
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weather is gonna be beautiful. we will have a nice tail wind on saturday, but its gonna be hotter than steamed donkey balls. bring lots of hydration and the appropriate clothing. def dont forget the sunscreen.
Sadly, I will have to skip this trip. My AC stopped working and needs to be fixed this Sat. Stay cool everyone, I will join you again when the fall comes.
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