This Department is conducted in the interest of Bicyclers, and the Editor will be pleased to answer any question on the subject. Our maps and tours contain many valuable data kindly supplied from the official maps and road-books of the League of American Wheelmen. Recognizing the value of the work being done by the L.A.W., the Editor will be pleased to furnish subscribers with membership blanks and information so far as possible.
Copyright, 1896, by Harper & Brothers.
Last week we followed the route from Chicago to Waukesha as far as Lippencott's, on Fox Lake, advising the rider to make the distance from Chicago to Lippencott's in one day, running as far as Wheeling in the morning, stopping there for dinner, and continuing to Lippencott's in the afternoon. It is possible to make the rest of the journey to Waukesha on the second day, and by referring to the map in the last issue of the Round Table the reader can follow the route from Fox Lake to Salem—the rest of the distance to Waukesha being shown on the map given this week.
The distance from Lippencott's is about fifty miles. Leaving Lippencott's, ride to the south about three-fourths of a mile, then turn sharp to the left instead of continuing back towards Wheeling. Hold this road for about two miles as it turns northward, and then run straight along on or near the shore of Fox Lake out to Antioch, the only turn being about half a mile before entering the town of Antioch itself, which is evidently enough to the right, as the town is in sight.
From Antioch, after crossing the track, proceed northward along the main road direct to Salem, a little over five miles from Antioch; thence run on out of Salem in the same direction about a mile; take the left turn at a junction of five roads, and ride out toward Fox River by Silver Lake, which will be on the left. Cross the river a good five miles from the fork beyond Salem. After crossing the river keep to the right, and follow the river itself all the way into Burlington, along an easily found road. At Burlington recross the river again, and follow a somewhat winding road to Rochester. Burlington is about eight miles from the bridge over Fox River, and Rochester is five miles from Burlington. Keeping on through Rochester, continue two miles to Waterford, and there turn northwestward and run a good eight miles to Mukwonago. The road is not especially good here, and there are some opportunities for losing the way, unless the map is followed carefully. It will pay to make inquiries occasionally. On leaving Mukwonago run on about five miles to the north, and at a fork, which is evident on the map and will be easily found on the road, turn to the right, and run to Saylesville. Thence proceed direct to Waukesha, seven miles away.
Burlington is the place to stop for lunch; that gives a ride of about twenty-five miles or more after lunch and twenty-six or twenty-seven miles before, thus dividing the journey in halves, and making a pleasant two days' run from Chicago to Waukesha. That is, leaving Chicago, stop for the noon rest the first day at Wheeling, and spend the night at Lippencott's; on the second day stop at Burlington for the noon rest, and reach Waukesha in the late afternoon.
From this point the rides about Waukesha, which have already been described in the recent numbers of the Round Table, can be taken, and a good fortnight's bicycling trip can be spent to great advantage in this one district alone. All the country along the route is made attractive by the conspicuous absence of bad hills and by the constant appearance of water, either in the form of ponds or lakes or rivers.
During the next weeks we shall give some especially interesting trips in Illinois, in the vicinity of Chicago, such as trips about Ottowa and trips to St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, Michigan. All of these are carefully chosen trips, adapted to the average bicycle-rider—not the long-distance century-runner—and it will well repay any wheelman to study these maps in and around Chicago.