GITAP 2005
Grand Trail, Grand Parks, Grand Time

Day 1, 06-12: Joliet to Kankakee River State Park
Day 2, 06-13: Kankakee River State Park to Starved Rock State Park
Day 3, 06-14: Starved Rock State Park to White Pines Forest State Park
Day 4, 06-15: Day off or ride in vicinity of White Pines Forest State Park using cue sheets
Day 5, 06-16: White Pines Forest State Park to Rock Cut State Park
Day 6, 06-17: Rock Cut State Park to Shabbona State Park
Day 7, 06-18: Shabbona State Park to Joliet
370 to 500+ miles, depending on daily mileage options.

GITAP 2005 Web page invitation

The third Grand Illinois Trail and Parks (GITAP) ride is set to roll in mid-June of 2005. Make plans to be a participant. With new routes, parks, plans, and events, the ride will offer unique explorations of northern Illinois. But the basics of the ride remain the same:

• A mid-June week-long supported bicycle tour using much of the Grand Illinois Trail and many of the state parks along the trail.
• Sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
• Tent camping in state parks, with a motel package available at an additional cost. Showers and luggage transportation provided.
• Breakfasts and dinners included - and, of course, a T-shirt, and optional jersey for sale.
• Nightly meetings featuring ride info, occasional entertainment, and door prizes.
• Alternative on-pavement routes when soft trails are used.

New for 2005:

• The ride will begin on Sunday, June 12, 2005, and end on Saturday, June 18.
• We'll begin and end at Joliet Junior College - close to I - 80 and I - 55.
• Explore the scenic and exciting "necklace" around the extended Chicagoland area.
• More route choices: bike anywhere from 370 to 500+ miles in the week.
• Check out the new Wauponsee Trail.
• It's a multi-waterway ride: Kankakee River, I&M Canal, Illinois River, Mississippi River, Rock River.
• We'll have a day off at White Pines State Forest, but with many enjoyable options: bike to Oregon, Il., and Lowden State Park; boat rides and canoeing possibilities; bike to visit Morrison's friendly folks; do a century to the Mississippi at Fulton and Thomson. - plus, we'll enjoy a dinner theater presentation in the evening.

And something extra special: This year GITAP will be in partnership with the Illinois Humanities Council in a novel experiment - adding a cultural and humanistic exploration to our bicycle tour,Velosophie. The humanities' activities will involve some reading before the start of the ride, along with discussions during the ride (after our evening dinners and ride meetings). It, of course, will be an optional activity, not a requirement.

Here's the tentative route:

• Sunday, 06-12 - Kankakee River State Park - 45 or 70 miles
• Monday, 06-13 - Starved Rock State Park - 70 miles
• Tuesday, 06-14 - White Pines Forest State Park - 75 miles
• Wednesday, 06-15 - White Pines Forest State Park - Take a day off or bike 25, 75, or 100 miles with cue sheets.
• Thursday, 06-16 - Rock Cut State Park - 60 miles
• Friday, 06-17 - Shabbona State Park - 65 miles
• Saturday, 06-18 - Joliet - 60 miles

The base price for the ride will be $320. Members of LIB will get a $20 discount, paying $300 (if you're unsure about your status, e-mail lib@bikelib.org). Special rates for younger riders are youths 15 to 12: $240; and 11 and younger: $160. Remember, any profit from GITAP goes to support LIB, which really means supporting bicycling.

For information about the motel package contact Laura Sanborn Kuhlman; 630-462-5427; lmsanborn@comcast.net.

Registration is first-come, first-served with a limit of 160 riders. We're asking for the full amount up front, with refunds according to this schedule: full refund before April 12; half refund before May 12; no refunds after May 12.

For reviews and pictures of the first two GITAPs, go to http://www.bikelib.org/gitap

So, if you want to enjoy an outdoor bicycling adventure on a grand scale in June of 2005, do the following:

1. Print the registration form from the link below.
2. Complete the registration form, remembering to sign the waiver.
3. Send the registration form and the total of your registration fees to GITAP, Chuck Oestreich, 816 - 22^nd St, Rock Island, IL  61201.
   Make the check payable to "League of Illinois Bicyclists".
4. After May 12, 2005, fees are not refundable but your registration will be transferable. If we meet our limit and have a waiting list of potential riders, we will help you if you need to transfer your registration.

Any questions: email Chuck Oestreich oestreich@qconline.com or 309-788-1845.

Printable registration form.