My original suggestion was to take John Simmons up on his invitation for breakfast.  But that plan fell through when Nature Dave decided a 5:30 AM departure was too ambitious.  So now what?  When the forecast is for 70's on an early March day, you can't not ride.  So after a little thought, I remembered an intriguing sign that I had noticed on last year's ride to Friends of Freddies.  It pointed the direction to something called "The Little Grand Canyon."  In Illinois, yet!  Who wouldda thought?  That, I had to see.  So off we set...

The day started with breakfast at the Cross-Eyed Cricket.

The day was nearly perfect, save for a ferocious wind typical of springtime in Illinois.

Dave and Diane sit a spell during a break along the way.

Who was it that said there are no curves in Illinois?  We found quite a few.

After an enjoyable ride, we eventually made it to the Little Grand Canyon.

A short hike down the trail led to a cut through the rocks that formed the entrance to the canyon.

Early signs of spring.

The going was a bit rougher on the way out.  Maybe the 200 foot elevation change had something to do with it.

After the hike, lunch and a round of root beer was a welcomed respite.  The Rootbeer Saloon in Alto Pass defines the word "unique" with its hundreds of stuffed birds and wildlife set amid myriad other eclectic curiosities.

	On the way out of Alto Pass, we stopped at the overlook to gawk at the immense Bald Knob Cross, home of the large Blessing of the Bikes gathering every year on the last Sunday in April.

Racing to make it home before dark, we happened upon Rick Simms and Big Dave's buddy, Russell, in Harrisburg.  They were on their way home after their Great Snake Migration adventure.  That's a trip report I hope to see soon!