Day 35 - ending near Champaign, IL - Downstate Illinois

August 10, 2025

Day 35 - ending near Champaign, IL

I got up at 5:03am, which I was happy with. The campground I plan to stay at tonight, D & W Lake RV Park near Champaign, requires that you be there before 9:00pm. That's 50 miles away. As long as I don't have any major problems, I should be able to make that.

I once again packed up until it was time to load my lunch bag, then I stopped for breakfast. Next-door camper Lesley walked over with Cookie, a grandmother's dog she's babysitting. We had an extended conversation, covering so many topics. They're camping in a new trailer that actually belongs to one of their daughters. It was the daughter's request from Make-A-Wish Foundation. Makes me think about all the things I take for granted. There was also talk about places we have been, especially places with good food. Yoder's Kitchen in Arthur was mentioned. I need to get back there someday, even if it takes routing a bike trip through there! Lesley, thanks so much for stopping by this morning - it was great meeting you!

I hadn't paid for my campsite yet, and was about ready to leave. Lesley pointed out that there are camp hosts nearby. That was a big help. I walked over and met Larry and Denise. They're not set up to take camping fees, the park ranger does that. But since I was set to go, they'll pass my money on to the ranger. Larry had been a truck driver. I find truck drivers always have interesting stories. Larry told about when he was in Nebraska and saw a huge cloud of dust. It wasn't windy, it was a real cowboy cattle drive heading toward town. (We were talking Nebraska because I told him that was my favorite place to bicycle.) As we were wrapping up conversations, Denise ran into their trailer to get me an ice cold Gatorade! Campgrounds are full of wonderful people. Larry and Denise (and Lesley) are perfect examples. Thanks for your help!

I bicycled away from site #39 at 8:20am on my way home, though it will take me 3 days to get there. I left the park the same way I came in last night - using the covered bridge to get on the other side of the lake. At 9:19am I crossed IL-1 on Clingan Lane. I was stair-stepping my way to Catlin, where there's a cafe. It's Sunday morning and I hadn't checked ahead of time. They were closed. But there was a nearby Casey's that worked for adding to my earlier breakfast.

My main goal for today, besides getting closer to home, was to ride the Kickapoo Rail Trail. At present the trail is in three sections, or at least there are three sections I was going to ride on. The first section starts at the Vermilion County Fairgrounds. I was there at 11:45am. Just previous to that I had sped down a hill and walked up a hill when I cross the Vermilion River.

Noon arrived as I was on the first section of this trail. 17.7 miles to report today. Time for that cold Gatorade.

This first section ended for me at 12.38pm at Oakwood. Two more miles west on a county road put me on US-150. That highway actually goes through Morton. I won't ride on it out of town. So I was a little apprehensive, but the traffic was so light on this early Sunday afternoon, that it wasn't a problem at all. The next trail segment is in-town in Ogden. Then back to more riding on the highway.

The next town to pick up the trail again is Saint Joseph. I noticed on Google Maps that they have a Dairy Queen. Another $7 meal deal sounded pretty good to me at the time, so I diverted through town to get there. While eating I checked Google Maps for their recommended routing from the end of the last segment to the campground. They wanted me to go through Urbana. That would probably be a more interesting route. Then I remembered that I had the same debate in my head at home when I was pre-planning the trip. In the end I'd routed to go around Champaign-Urbana on the east and north sides. I decided now to stay with that plan. But first I had the last trail segment to do - from Saint Joseph to Urbana. I hopped on the trail at 3rd Street at 3:48pm. I'd say this section of trail is fixed up the best. It is in a more open field area, paralleling US-150 which is just to its north. And there are information signs along the way.

I turned on my radio this afternoon, but it was just to find WILL so I could listen to more classical music.

At 4:53pm I left the trail to get on High Cross Road going north following my plan to stay out of town. I turned west on Olympian Road at 5:20pm. Then it was stair-stepping up to and just over interstate I-57 to where the campground is.

I was at the entrance to the campground at 6:15pm. The campground owner said they're not set up for tent camping anymore, but he'd find me a place to stay. Back when they did have tent camping here, there were problems with university students showing up at midnight, not really camping but just wanting a place to party. Anyway, I was very grateful to be set up at a site with a good view to the west. Earlier on the trail I thought I was seeing storms off to the west. I checked the weather radar when I arrived in camp. It was raining to the west! So I set up anticipating rain. We'll see.

Jeff

Today's ride: 50 miles (80 km)
Total: 1,415 miles (2,277 km)

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Nancy GrahamNearing home already! “Already” for me, maybe not so much for you. I imagine you are very ready to be home. Thank you for taking the time to write and take photos to share. I do so enjoy your bike trips.
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