GITAP 2006

Day 1, Su, 06-11: to White Pines Forest State Park. 35 or 65 miles
Day 2, M, 06-12: to Mississippi Palisades State Park. 50 or 70 miles
Day 3, T, 06-13: Mississippi Palisades State Park. 35 or 75 miles
Day 4, W, 06-14: to Rock Island's Augustana College. 65 or 90 miles
Day 5, Th, 06-15: Augustana College - Take a day off, bike your choice of the trails in the Quad Cities, or do 100 miles to New Boston and back. 0 to 100 miles
Day 6, F, 06-16: to Morrison/Rockwood State Park. 70 or 95 miles
Day 7, Sa, 06-17: To Rochelle. 60 miles
315 to 555 miles, depending on daily mileage options.

GITA (Grand Illinois Totally Audacious) 2006 Photo contest

The judges have met, conferred, and selected and here are the results of the GITA 2006 Photo contest.

Best All Around: Larry Varney's "Bridges"

Most Humorous: Nancy Strandberg's "Playing Prohibited?"

Most Scenic: Jennifer Davis's "View of the River"

Best Bicycling: Larry Varney's "Power Stacks"

Best State Park: Nancy Strandberg's "After Dinner at Palisades"

Thanks to all of you who entered and Amy Madigan and her stalwart IDNR crew who judged.
Do remember next year you'll have another grand chance to catch that just-right shot on GITAP which will be held June 17 to 23, 2007.

GITAP 2006 Web page invitation:

GITAP-2006
Grand Trail, Grand Parks, Grand Time

4^th annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks bicycle tour
June 11-17, 2006

GITAP-06 is getting set to provide a recipe for a wonderful week of bike riding in northern Illinois - one with multiple servings. Both hard chargers and those who want to take it easier will have opportunities to both taste the road and smell the roses. This year the ride features western Illinois - especially the scenic trails along the Mississippi River. And for the topping on the cake, we'll overnight at three beautiful state parks. Bon Appetite! However our basics remain the same:

• A mid-June week-long supported bicycle tour using much of the Grand Illinois Trail and a number of the state parks along it.
• Sponsored by the League of Illinois Bicyclists with support from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
• Tent camping in state parks, with a motel package available at additional cost. Showers and luggage transportation provided.
• Breakfasts and dinners included - and, of course, a T-shirt, emergency sag, bike repair, and refreshment stops when needed. (An optional jersey will be for sale.)
• Nightly meetings featuring ride info, occasional entertainment, and door prizes.
• Alternative on-pavement routes when soft trails are used.
• On a number of days you will have the option of riding extra miles in addition to the basic route.
• Velosophie (sponsored by the Illinois Humanities Council) will be with us again as an optional activity in the evenings. Read, think about, and discuss journey-related literature with a philosophical bent.

New for 2006:

• The ride will begin on Sunday, June 11, 2006, and end on Saturday, June 17.
• We'll begin and end at Rochelle Middle School - close to I-88 and I-39.
• Our loop will feature western Illinois - and almost four days on Mississippi River trails.
• You'll have many route choices: bike anywhere from 315 to 555 miles during the week.
• A new stop will be lofty Mississippi Palisades State Park - for two overnights. We'll also visit favorites from the past: White Pines Forest and Morrison/Rockwood State Parks.
• One of the loops from the Palisades includes an optional trip to Galena (but you'll have to get back via Blackjack Road - a 15% grade).
• We'll have a "day off" in the Quad Cities at Augustana College. Explore the superb network of urban trails - or do a century on the Mississippi River Trail.
• For every bike club with 5 members or more on the GITAP, we will add 5% of their GITAP registration fees to that club's annual contribution to LIB.

Here's the tentative route:
Day 1, Su, 06-11: to White Pines Forest State Park. 35 or 65 miles
Day 2, M, 06-12: to Mississippi Palisades State Park. 50 or 70 miles
Day 3, T, 06-13: Mississippi Palisades State Park. 35 or 75 miles
Day 4, W, 06-14: to Rock Island's Augustana College. 65 or 90 miles
Day 5, Th, 06-15: Augustana College - Take a day off, bike your choice of the trails in the Quad Cities, or do 100 miles to New Boston and back. 0 to 100 miles
Day 6, F, 06-16: to Morrison/Rockwood State Park. 70 or 95 miles
Day 7, Sa, 06-17: To Rochelle. 60 miles
315 to 555 miles, depending on daily mileage options.

The base price for the ride will be $330. This is a modest increase, due mainly to higher energy costs. Members of LIB will get a $20 discount, paying $310 (if you're unsure about your status, e-mail lib@bikelib.org). Special rates for younger riders: 15 to 12 years-old: $250; and 11 and younger: $165. And this year, for the first time, we will have an "early planning rate" of $320 - for registrations mailed by April 1. A late rate of $350 will go into effect on June 1. Remember, any profit from GITAP goes to support LIB, which really means supporting bicycling. LIB is Illinois' statewide bike advocacy organization.

For information about the motel package contact Laura Kuhlman: 630-462-5427; laura@thekuhlmans.com. And our master sports masseuse, Glen Morey, will be offering a number of camp services along with massages: www.professionaleventsmassage.com.

Registration is first-come, first-served with a limit of 160 riders. We're asking for the full amount up front, with refunds according to this schedule: full refund before April 11; half refund before May 11; no refunds after May 11.

For reviews and pictures of the first three GITAPs, go to http://www.bikelib.org/gitap.

So, if you want to enjoy an outdoor bicycling adventure on a grand scale in June of 2006, do the following:

1. Use the link below to complete and print the registration form.
2. Sign the registration form AND the waiver on the bottom of the form.
3. Make the check payable to "League of Illinois Bicyclists".
4. Mail the registration form and the total of your registration fees to GITAP, Chuck Oestreich, 816 - 22^nd St, Rock Island, IL  61201.
5. After May 11, 2006, fees are not refundable but your registration will be transferable. If we meet our limit and have a waiting list of potential riders, we will help you if you need to transfer your registration.
6. Printable registration form. (If you use the free Adobe Acrobat^® reader v7.x you may use your computer to complete the registration form before signing and mailing it.)
7. Online registration with electronic payment is available at www.Active.com and SignMeUp.com.

Questions: contact Chuck Oestreich oestreich@qconline.com or 309-788-1845.