We started the day bright and early, eager to roll into Chicago for yet another rest day. The team enjoyed a nice and flat day, with a good chunk of the ride on shaded and sandy paths. It was great to have a more relaxed day on our way into Chicago, but the roads did get busier as we entered the Chicagoland area. Luckily, we all arrived at Stephanie’s house, and a crowd of parents was waiting for us! During our rest day, everyone had time to visit bike shops, get some laundry done, and clean their bikes. In the evening, some I4K alumni joined us for a yearly tradition, and everyone enjoyed each other’s company!
Quote of the Day
Yuncong gifts Andres sun sleeves
Andres: “Awwww, thank you, I’ll buy you a coffee or something.”
Yuncong: No. Buy me a tomato.”
RIDE OVERVIEW
Mileage: 69.9 miles
Elevation: 1,272 ft
Points of Interest: Joliet, Chicago, Stephanie’s House
Ride Dedication: Gavin
Tales of the Trail
Day 18
The team woke up at our usual time with an amazing breakfast donated by the Adventure Christian Church. It was nice to take a break from oatmeal, with some well-needed eggs and coffee in the morning. The team started the day with some flat roads and decent weather, and not too much happened. As we rolled into Joliet, the team rode on a shaded path, which cooled us down from summer’s heat. We had a rest stop just before continuing the trail and ate lunch under a shaded gazebo. The team also started to build a bouquet of flowers that we picked throughout the ride.
We spent a large portion of the ride on shady and sandy trails, giving us an opportunity to talk and take it easy. We also found a cool waterfall – shoutout Kev for showing us a spot! After some trail riding, we got back on the roads and were greeted by the busy streets of the Chicagoland area. As we were close to ending our ride, my group came across a flooded underpass that forced us to reroute, while other groups chose to trek through the murky waters. We finally arrived at Stephanie’s house with a crowd of parents waiting for us, and many of us got to reunite with our loved ones. The team celebrated with a dip in the neighbor’s pool, and many of us dispersed throughout the Chicagoland area.
Day 19
Most of the day was spent relaxing as most of the team dispersed throughout the Chicagoland area to spend time with family and friends. Some went to bike shops to get new parts, and others took it easy by slowly repacking things and reevaluating what was needed for the rest of the trip. There was an I4K reunion at Stephanie’s house later in the day where I4K alumni, parents, and family joined together to feast and update each other. Plenty of food was provided; the parents of our current riders got to know one another, while the alumni got to know our current riders for this year. The reunion was a great time to reconnect with others from the organization and share stories of our adventures. After the reunion, the team settled in for the night as the day ahead was gonna be a hot one. Thank you to Stephanie’s family for hosting the team the last two days and providing us with food, a place to cool off (the pool), and for hosting our annual I4K reunion!
