Day 16 - ending near Grafton, IL - Downstate Illinois

July 22, 2025

Day 16 - ending near Grafton, IL

I went to bed at 10:01pm last night. At 10:45pm there was a train engine blowing its horn really load. It was the loudest of any I've ever heard at a campground. It had adults laughing and babies crying.

I thought I might sleep-in a little this morning being it's a shorter mileage day (35 miles), but I woke up at 4:42am. Decided I could use the time to sort some pictures which I worked at until 6:20am.

Today's destination is Pere Marquette State Park just beyond Grafton. As soon as I get back by the river, it'll be trails most all the way. I left this KOA campground at 7:35am for a short ride to Waffle House. I had their All Star Special, which filled me up.

On my way after breakfast for a little more riding west to where the road splits - left to the Chain of Rocks Bridge or right to The MCT trail. I went right and got on East Levee Trail going north. That trail parallels the Chain of Rocks Canal on its east side. There was a barge in the canal and that was fun to watch as I rode along. There was a south to southeast breeze today which was going my way.

I passed a lot of places where I could stop today, and I did stop at most of them. The first being Lewis and Clark (Camp River Dubois) State Historic Site. They weren't open, but did have some interesting informational signs. Next was Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower. They were closed also, it appears for major renovations. Apparently there's an elevator that will take you up for good views of the area when they are open.

At 9:58am I came to a "Trail Closed" barricade. There was no one around and it looked like they had completed resurfacing the trail, so I went around the barricade. At the next three intersections I ran into trail barricades on both sides of the roads. There were also workers in each of these areas. None of them said anything as I walked around all the barricades. At 10:19am I went around my last barricade and was on officially open trail again.

The next place I stopped at was
Lewis and Clark Community College National Great Rivers Research and Education Center. They're more about education and research than displays, but they did have some depicting flowing water. Then, the last place I visited was National Great Rivers Museum next to Melvin Price Locks and Dam. I was there for 43 minutes, starting at 10:59am. I took a lot of pictures of information displays to read at home. The air conditioning at these places where I was able to get in sure felt nice.

At 11:58am I came upon a pavilion near Clark Bridge in Alton, so stopped for my noon break. Since I'd taken so many pictures this morning my phone needed charging, so I rigged up charging from the bicycle's accessories battery. Lately I've been using the handlebar
-mounted phone holder to secure the phone while charging, since I'm not using that holder anymore for my radar receiver.

Noon mileage on this leisurely day is 13.5 miles.

There's a short section of road riding on the north side of Alton between the end of the MCT trail and the start of the Sam Vadalabene Trail, which goes to the State Park. Before I tackled that road section, I stopped at "Pour Decisions" for a Dr Pepper with ice. I had pleasant conversations with the bartender and a customer who drives to Peoria once in awhile for business.

I arrived at Piasa Park at 1:01pm, where the Vadalebene Trail begins. It's as flat as the highway it parallels (IL-100) all the way to Grafton. I passed by Elsah at 2:43pm, and arrived at the city limits for Grafton at 3:00pm. My at-home research had indicated Grafton has an ice cream place - Grafton Fudge and Ice Cream. I ordered a large bowl of "Blueberry Waffle Cone" (an ice cream flavor) and also a cherry flavored bottle of pop. I need to bicycle past a place like this everyday!

I was hearing thunder as I ate, so checked the radar. Storms were just south of here in Missouri. Later, on my way to the state park, it sounded like close thunder, but I didn't get rained on - just a few sprinkles. The trail from Grafton to the state park goes up into the bluffs some, so there was climbing and coasting. At one point I went over a bridge and was able to view from there the Brussels Ferry, which I plan to ride on tomorrow to get across the Illinois River.

I arrived at the camping area for the state park at 5:03pm. There was a fellow checking in with the campground host in front of me, and a couple with a "Grasshopper" or "Cricket" trailer after me. It looked unique. I was assigned Site #12 after I mentioned that my extension cord is only 12 foot long. The host said it was a nice flat site. But it isn't flat within 12 feet of the electrical box, I discovered after I got there! I guess I could have gone back and said something, but decided to set up on the rough rock of the trailer parking pad. We'll have to see how well I sleep on this.

I am about as close as I can get to the shower house though, and took advantage of that as soon as I had the tent up. I was back sorting pictures at 7:05pm. Eventually moved into the tent because of mosquitoes. Well that was my day - fun and not too exciting. Sure glad to have missed the rain.

Jeff

Lewis and Clark (Camp River Dubois) State Historic Site

Lewis and Clark Community College National Great Rivers Research & Education Center

Mom is about to take over piloting the barge.

Trail entrance to Pere Marquette State Park

Today's ride: 35 miles (56 km)
Total: 663 miles (1,067 km)

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