Twelfth Step Winter Solstice Finale

No, this isn't about trying, after having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, to carry any message to alcoholics, or to practice any principles in all our affairs.

It's about trying to ride to Three Floyds every month this year.

We start by taking the lakefront trail south from the Clock Tower. You can join up anywhere along the trail. Just let me know where so we can look for you.

New beers since last time: Royal Brat, an extremely quaffable, severely mellow, aggressively tender, and belligerently sessionable English-Style Best Bitter; Immutable Dusk, a Cascadian Dusky Ale as unwavering in its beguiling flavor as its namesake; and Level Eater, a dark Dwarven session ale brewed with experimental hops, suitable for hoisting in the best of ale horns.

45 miles total if you take the Metra back, 70 if you ride both ways. 13-16 mph. We don't make many stops. We don't always stay together. My goal is to get there before they open (at noon), so we don't have to wait as long to get in (it's the second-best brewery in the world, so sometimes there's a line). Returning, there's no hurry. Bring money, a lock, lights since it's the shortest day of the year, water and snacks to have en route, and panniers for beer you can't get in Chicago.

Online resources: Google map, cue sheet, Metra schedule, Metra rules, and, to save us all a minute at the start, the nifty online CCC waiver.