Sometimes, you gotta earn it. Horrified by the statistics that we’re all getting fat, and tormented by my mother’s dormant plump gene (“Slack off . . . just for a second . . . and you’re mine!”), I was ready for Kevin’s really fine day. You’ll think it’s crazy, as people always do when I tell them that I bicycle commute the 50-plus round-trip miles from Highland Park to the Tribune every day, but would you rather be crazy and able to eat whatever you want, or sane and on a diet? I’ll be the guy in the corner with the hot fudge sundae. Most of these columns revolve around food, and this one is no exception. Rarer are the Fine Days that allow you to balance your gustatory bottom line (pun intended) by dint of sheer effort. So, we’re off …
MORNING
More Top Picks Best Large Capacity Wheelchairs Ramps For Home Accessibility
Daniel Wright Woods, part of the Lake County Forest Preserve system, sits in Lake Forest, at the intersection of St. Mary’s and Everett Roads. Roll into the parking lot, and park your vehicle, then unload your bicycle from the back. You have one, right? Sorry, should have told you sooner, because Danny is hiding a beautiful thing, which is a traffic-free, roughly 45-mile round-trip pedal from Lake Forest to near the Wisconsin border. The signage is simple: follow “DPR Trail North” to get out, and “DPR Trail South” to return. The surface is this sort of crushed limestone combination, which is fairly smooth except for in the early season, when horse hoofmarks freeze into chatter-inducing little potholes. So almost any kind of bicycle will work. Just ride.
You should bring water, not because there aren’t any spots to stop. There are, usually at major road crossings, such as Illinois Highways 60 and 120, or Russell Road, your end of the line. But the trail is so lovely and relaxing, you won’t want to stop — which is good, because you shouldn’t, pantywaist.
The best part of this ride is that you can go as far as you like, from the 45-mile full monty to any point in between. Just follow the signs, and it’s impossible to get lost.
AFTERNOON
There, wasn’t that fun? You’re dead, right? Relax and replenish at Once Upon A Bagel (1888 First St., Highland Park; 847-433-1411), home of pretty much everything under the sun. Cookies, omelettes, potato pancakes, actual pancakes. And the best part is that you’ve earned it all, unless you only did a mile or two. You folks can have one of the low-carb bagels they sell, and head for home.
EVENING
We’re heading south, because we love Lula Cafe (2537 N. Kedzie Blvd., 773-489-9554), the little gem in Logan Square that is known for brunch, but that also serves dinner. Its interesting menu includes items such as brie and cauliflower soup (vegetarian friendly) and suckling pig stuffed quail (um . . . not veggy friendly).
Lula’s has great desserts, but really — come on — you’re only 5 minutes by car from Margie’s Candies (1960 N. Western Ave., 773-384-1035), the stalwart that has been ruining waistlines and diet plans for more than eight decades. Piping-hot melted fudge comes with your ice cream edifice, but be sure to finish up early.
Because to work all this off, we’ll be back on the trail in the morning.