Tour Guide Todd

Yup...we jump onto the I&M, ride for about 20 minutes, and up rides the first guy that actually looks like a biker (since we left Davenport, hadn't seen any 'real' cyclists). He said, "you gotta be Ryan..?..."

"You Todd"

"Yup"

"Let's ride!"

Todd was a great tour guide. Explained much of the history as we passed the I & M Canal Locks (Illinois and Michigan if you're wondering). Todd happens to be a Chauffeur in Vail during ski season. Small world! This was no Hennepin Canal trail, look at this incredible canapy of trees:

A fairly cool ride, what a nice change! Slower because of the looser surface, we sink into it from being so heavy. But, we cruised right along and made some stops along the way.

Frogs hopping across the trails.

Turtles moving up and off logs in the Canal.

Birds and crazed insects flying all around.

No fish though. We tried. Does Dylan look like Tom Sawyer or what?

I asked the Boys if they wanted to go on and into Chicago, or hit the hotel now. Duh??? !!! We found yet another hotel with a pool, what are the odds?

A call to a cab company, and we played at the Haunted Hills amusement park, with Go-Karts (Dylan went on his first high-speed SOLO Go Kart ride, he did so well). Riley was of course, a madman, and beat everyone on the track.

Now, the photo I really want to post, I didn't take. BUT, here we are at 6 or so in the evening and realizing that we hadn't eaten much at all. STARVING. So, back to hotel and next to it was a Cracker Barrel. You'd think after living 40 years I would've had a meal at a Cracker Barrel before, but no. This would be a first.

Let's start with the fact that I couldn't get a beer. OK, that's fine...and I realized why...if they did, the FDA would have to shut the entire chain of restaurants down for flagrant disregard for human caloric supply (FDFHCS).

The size of the patrons...best described by the couple next to us with 'his' and 'hers' matching pajama pants. These were worn intentionally to provide maximum stretch-age after muscling down Chicken Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Steak, Chicken Fried Fries...and I'm pretty sure Chicken Fried Coca-Cola. By the way, these were NASCAR pajamas, his Dale Jarrett, her's Tony Stewart. The fact that I know this by the racing numbers, must make me a bit of a red-neck as well.

Perhaps we're done riding. The boys are torn, but a train takes us right to Wrigley with a day game tomorrow. Todd said he'd ride with us, but we'll see....we are a bit unsure about the safety of our bike ride into the heart of the city from here. The hotel said they'd hold our bike for us...everyone again, has been unbelievably nice!