Maybe I could ride a week or so earlier than the three-month mark :)

I'll be following your progress in your journal!

Jeff

Jeff,
I could/would certainly divert to Cave-In-Rock, or Shawneetown for that matter, for the opportunity to meet up with you – it wouldn't even add a day to my schedule! Cave-In-Rock has a state park, and Shawneetown has a campground, so I'd be all set. Except . . . I'd arrive on July 15 (if I stay on schedule) and you're not clear to ride until July 22. My wife says to just ride my route backwards. Haha!
One of these years I really should tour Kentucky. When I do, I'll route straight through Henderson, making sure first you're not out checking off the few states you have left to ride.
Jeff

Depending on when you're in that area, I might be able to ride over (I'm supposed to be able to ride again later this month.) Maybe I can do an overnight ride from here in Henderson to Harrisburg (or wherever exactly you're staying), and we can get together.

Jeff

Nancy,
Thanks! We'll see how it goes.
Jeff

Jeff,
I'll be on the Tunnel Hill Trail in that area. Harrisburg (on the trail) measures the closest to Cave-In-Rock, at about 27 straight-line miles.
Jeff

Kathleen,
Exactly! Downstate Illinois, Upstate New York - two of a kind.
Jeff

Bill,
I see the Savanna Army Depot location was between Savanna and Hanover. The actual bike 'path' heading north ends at the south end of Savanna. The MRT is road-routing (IL-84) north of there. The MRT User Guide does offer an alternate (but hilly) route to avoid IL-84 between Savanna and Hanover. Checking just now, I see I've planned to stay on the IL-84 (sometimes no shoulder) main route, so we'll see how that works out. I may do that only once, as you did!
Jeff

Tim,
I'd never heard of this place either. Very interesting video you linked to (www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDGxPwKgXk). Here's another video that popped up afterwards, made by a high school class (www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYxAfy80KYk).
Thanks for checking into this and sharing.
Jeff

I had never heard of an amory in Savanna. Rock Island, for sure, but not Savanna. I found this you-tube vid and read up on Wikipedia. Fascinating! https://www.google.com/search?q=savanna+il+armory+building&sca_esv=29db07fc8cf0577a&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS980US981&sxsrf=AE3TifNx0ftUIdQD1tLw4tDtfCFUP29RZQ%3A1751539636810&ei=tF9maIuaMdbDp84P65Kw2Q4&oq=savanna+il+armory&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiEXNhdmFubmEgaWwgYXJtb3J5KgIIATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigATIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSNRBUKwLWMsecAF4AJABAJgBbaAB9wSqAQM2LjG4AQHIAQD4AQGYAgigAqYFwgINEAAYgAQYsAMYQxiKBcICDRAuGIAEGLADGEMYigXCAgkQABiwAxgHGB7CAhMQLhiABBiwAxhDGMgDGIoF2AEBwgIZEC4YgAQYsAMYQxjHARjIAxiKBRivAdgBAcICFhAuGIAEGLADGLEDGEMYyAMYigXYAQHCAgUQABiABMICChAAGIAEGEMYigXCAgQQABgDwgILEAAYgAQYkQIYigXCAhQQLhiABBiRAhjHARiKBRiOBRivAcICERAuGIAEGJECGMcBGIoFGK8BwgICECbCAgYQABgWGB7CAgsQABiABBiGAxiKBcICCBAAGKIEGIkFmAMAiAYBkAYUugYGCAEQARgIkgcDNy4xoAewKLIHAzYuMbgHnwXCBwUwLjEuN8gHJA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5561c2db,vid:dLDGxPwKgXk,st:0

I truly like your creative way of planning and mapping out a tour idea, and filling it in with your waypoints. This sounds like another interesting tour d’Jeff and I look forward to following along with you again. YAY! Another Jeff journal. 🤗

This should be interesting! I lived in Savanna '70-'73 as a Quality Assurance Specialist (Ammo Surveillance) intern at the school, then located at Savanna Army Depot (long since closed and moved to McAlester, OK). I was sent back there from a 2 year tour in Germany to work on some explosives safety stuff for the ammo center. As my next mandatory rotation was rapidly approaching, I transferred to the Depot safety manager position, where I remained until '86 when I transferred to the AMC Field Safety Office in Charlestown, IN. All that to say I spent a total of 12 years there, and when I left, I told them that the only things I really would not miss were the weather from October to April and the mosquitoes from April to October. It is good to see they have bike paths there now! I only bike commuted to the depot one time while there. Lots of traffic on the highway with no shoulders, a cliff on the east and a guard rail on the west heading out of town.

Cool! How close to Cave in Rock will you be riding?

Hi ho, away!

I laughed at your description of downstate Illinois. As a kid I lived in upstate New York not far from the Canadian border. When we moved to a town near the Hudson River not far north of Manhattan, I was amazed we were still considered by the NYC and Long Island folk to live “upstate.” Eye of the beholder.