Sights While Biking Today...

Today our group met in Crystal Lake, and despite the 45 degree temps, we set off to bike the McHenry Prairie Trail. But first we biked over to check out the brand new Three Oaks Recreation Area off Main Street just south of Northwest Highway. There is a paved trail from the Prairie Trail to cross Main Street and it is equipped with a flashing yellow light you can trigger to stop the cars -- and it worked -- they stopped! The area is an old quarry turned into a large lake, very similar to the marvelous Independence Grove created by the Lake County Forest Preserve District some years ago. Its amenities include picnic pavillions, fishing piers, boat rental (rowboats with trolling motors, canoes, kayaks, sailboats, paddleboats), beach, hiking trails, and a playground/spray park. The 4,400 square foot lake house will include shower/locker rooms, a concessions area and a patio.






Then we biked south on the trail. Yesterday, a huge fire hit the old Toastmaster factory along the trail in Algonquin. It has been a derelict building for many years and an eyesore to the community and bikers on the trail, and was scheduled for demolition soon. Crews were busily working on removing the embers and remaining walls as we biked past the scene...

The temperature never got above the low 50s as we biked, and the fierce cold wind hampered our return trip, but after 2 hours on the bikes, we rewarded ourselves with a stop at the Colonial restaurant. Great morning!