GITAP

This is the Grand Illinois Trail and Parks ride. The first one was this year, and I was lucky enough to hear about it in time to get a spot - total riders was limited to around 150.

It was a 7-day loop tour involving rail-trails as well hard-packed gravel trails alongside some gorgeous canals, along with rural roads, starting west of Chicago and going to the Mississippi River, heading north a bit and paralleling the Wisconsin border, back to the start.

I liked it well enough that I'm planning on riding it against next year. The dates are June 13-19. There were a few Bike Fridays on this past ride, but there's always room for more!

Email Chuck Oestreich at oestreich@qconline.com for more information.

And, check out http://home.fuse.net/larryvarney/gitap_2003.html for some pictures and stuff about the event this year.