BIKE/CAMPING: Bike Camping at Camp Shabbona Woods
Cook County Camping: Camp Shabbona Woods
Did you know that there are a handful of campgrounds within a day’s bike ride of Chicago? You won’t find any real wilderness, but you can still have a big adventure close to home without needing a car or even a train ticket. You can add a lot of time to that Google Maps estimate, as you’ll be carrying camping gear (although some of the Cook County campgrounds rent gear, but you definitely want to call ahead and make sure you can reserve some before setting out) and taking rest breaks… especially if you’re towing a dog or a kid!
Here are some photos from a little weekend overnight adventure that Zeus da Moose and I took to Shabbona Woods… I will write more about this journey later, but for now, enjoy the pictures!
And finally… we made it to the campground! This guy is pooped… and he didn’t even have to pedal. Me too, bud. Meeee too. I’m about ready to use a landscape timber for a pillow too… but first, fooooood!
Alcohol stove set up to boil water for my freeze-dried Mountain House lasagna dinner . Topped up my trusty anodized aluminum cup full of Revolution IPA that I picked up on the way (which may or may not be against the campground rules- I didn’t check, but don’t be a jerk and keep it down and probably no one will bother you if you want a quiet adult brew after biking a loaded quarter century in an afternoon). Time for a campground charcuterie spread of salami and a pouch of spicy olives to take the edge off while the kettle heats up and dinner rehydrates…
What do you do when you forget your spoon? Be glad you brought your trusty SOG knife and whittle one! Cue up the summer camp song now… “Great big gobs of greasy, grimy gopher guts, mutilated monkey meat, little birdie’s dirty feet… all mixed up to make a tasty dinner treat, and I forgot my spoon!
