August 4, 2025
Day 29 - ending near Kirkland, IL
Up at 5:56am this morning, after sleeping very well. After grabbing a plate from the motel's breakfast room, I microwaved my leftover burrito from supper last night. That worked better than I thought for breakfast. I packed up, got the bike outside, then had a little more motel breakfast.
Today's destination, decided on last night, is MacQueen Forest Preserve near Kirkland. My way to there is to ride on the Pecatonica Prairie Trail, at least the portion that is ridable. But first I had to get back to Tutty's Crossing, which is near the end of the Jane Addams Trail and the start of the Pecatonia Prairie Trail. I passed Freeport's Debate Square on my way there. There sure are a lot of information boards there, which I took pictures of to read later. There's also a Union Dairy Farms building next to the square that looks like it would be a fun place to visit.
I made it to Tutty's Crossing at 8:57am, and the start of the Pecatonica Trail at 9:05am. There were a few empty road sections on the east side of Freeport, then it was a trail with two truck-tire-wide paths separated with grass in the middle. Still, it was good riding. I think this is a rail trail - nice and flat.
At 9:31am I was at the end of the first rideable segment of the trail. So it was road riding for a while, some of it on a most pleasant gravel road next to the river. At 10:45am I was back on the trail. I passed through Pecatonica (the town) on paved trail at 11:20am. Back to gravel and grass east of town. It was here that I first noticed that it is starting to get humid again, after these several days of very pleasant weather.
I'd just went under US-20 using Sherman Underpass when noon arrived: 21.4 miles. McQueen Forest Preserve is somewhat remote, at least that's what I was thinking, so I was figuring out what would be the last restaurant on my route where I could eat another meal. That turned out to be in Winnebago. The Downtown Diner there closes at 1:30pm. I arrived there at 12:35pm. This is the classic small town cafe. All older folks, older than me even, sitting at one big table. The menu the young waitress placed before me had only breakfast items listed. Of course, that was fine with me. I really enjoyed this meal. I found it interesting that the tab was just a scrap of paper. I was able to get a partial phone charge while I ate - from 58% to 85%. If I'd quit taking so many pictures, I think one charge would last me all day.
One of our church's former pastors grew up in Winnebago, but I couldn't remember if it was a Presbyterian or a Methodist church she attended. Anyway I bicycled past both. I think the Presbyterians are a little more well off.
At 1:30pm I was back on the trail heading east out of Winnebago. I made it to the end of the trail just west of Rockford at 2:03pm, which put me on Meridian Road going south. I'd done a lot of planning at home before this trip to figure out how to get around Rockford. I used the bridge across the Rock River that's just north of the airport, then rode around the airport on its west side. Later I passed a quarry and a landfill as I headed south and east. Fortunately, these roads all had shoulders. Backing up a little, I was still thinking this evening's campground was remote, meaning there'd be no place for breakfast tomorrow. So I stopped at the last gas station I would pass to buy items for breakfast. That gas station was Road Ranger, which unfortunately was across the busy highway. I parked the bike on the shoulder and walked over. I picked up some donuts, Pop-Tarts, Pringles, and a canned coffee. As I was checking out the clerk said these Rice Krispie treats are 2 for $4, so I had her throw those in the bag too.
I rolled over interstate I-39 on McNeal Road at 4:30pm. At this point I felt I was past the city and back on country roads. Very pleasant country roads - they were flat. I turned on my radio and tuned in WNIU, 90.5 MHz, Rockford/DeKalb. They play classical music, which I enjoy listening to while bicycling.
I was at the forest preserve's entrance at 5:55pm. I was impressed when I got to the pay station. They have pay envelopes indicating which sites are still available. Looking at their map, I decided to go with site #6, and put $5 in the pay envelope. The campsites here are all primitive and walk-in. They're mostly located in along the edge of a big open field. I think any of the sites would have worked well for me. No one else is here, so I guess they were all available.
I set up the tent, then had supper out of my lunch bag, and also added a few Pringles and a Rice Krispie treat. I finally finished the bag of ginger snaps I've had with me since the start of the trip. They'd turned into a bag of crumbs. I ate them with my spoon. While eating I checked Google Maps to see how "remote" this place is. It's not remote at all! In fact I have a waypoint entered on my GPS for breakfast tomorrow at the cafe in nearby Kirkland. Oh well. I'll just have to drink two coffees tomorrow.
Jeff
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Today's ride: 55 miles (89 km)
Total: 1,148 miles (1,848 km)
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| Comment on this entry | Comment | 2 |
Today’s rail trails seemed pretty adventurous. Who woulda thought in that part of the state it would feel remote.
2 weeks ago
2 weeks ago