Day 4 - ending near Clarksville, IL - Downstate Illinois

July 10, 2025

Day 4 - ending near Clarksville, IL

Woke up at 5:17am to birds singing a lot! It was hazy this morning, but not a fog. I worked on the report in the tent until 7:35am. Packed up and leaving at 8:59am.

There's a pedestrian covered bridge here at Forest Glen Preserve that I figured would get me across the lake and to a road that would be a shortcut out of the park. That worked!

Mill Creek Campground near Clarksville is where I was headed today. But first, to nearby Georgetown for breakfast.
I arrived at the Subway in town at 9:49am. I was hoping to get the report for yesterday posted while I was there. This Subway doesn't have wifi for customer use, and the cell signal wasn't the best either, so I needed to reduce the size of all the pictures. When I looked at my watch after hitting the "post" button, I was shocked to see it was past 11:00am! I left the bike parked at Subway, and walked next door to Family Dollar for three bottles of Gatorade. I've got a new insulated bag with me this year, and it's working so very well keeping these bottles cool.

Finally, at 11:39am, I was on my way. I rode US-150 south to Olivet, arriving there at 11:58am. This morning's riding was 7.7 miles. After Olivet I headed west and south on country roads, arriving at Cherry Point at 2:17pm.

It was fairly warm today, especially in the sun, so I was keeping an eye out for shady places to take a break. I found a couple of spots that worked out well. First in the shade of a cottonwood tree and then later next to a storage silo.

West of Paris, I crossed IL-133 at 4:35pm, then IL-16 at 5:20pm. At 5:27pm I came to "We Li Kit Farmstand," an ice cream stand in the middle of nowhere. I'd noticed this place on the map during my route planning back home, but I didn't expect it to really be open. Of course I stopped. Other customers arrived. One suggested that I get Mill Creek Mud flavor, so I went with two scoops of that. Also got a lemonade, then walked down to the picnic table under their pavilion. Such a treat! I put the leftover lemonade and ice in my insulated thermos, then got back heading south at 5:54pm.

There's a gas station - Lakeside Oasis, next to the entrance to Mill Creek Campground. I stopped there to pick up a slice of pizza to carry with me for supper, and also a canned coffee for tomorrow morning.

I took my official "I've arrived" picture at the park entrance at 7:13pm. Proceeded on to the campground, looking for the campground host. I don't think I've ever been as lost inside a campground as this one. The place was packed with RVs. There are apparently more than one campground host, but the signs are lacking. I finally found one host site that was signed. A fellow walking by said this host was at the other host's site, and gave me directions to get there. I did eventually find a host, and he was most helpful. He had me follow his golf cart, first showing me where the shower house is, then the laundry house, and finally where the primitive camping area is. He said I could pay at the main gate house when I leave tomorrow morning.

I sat down at one of the picnic tables here to eat my pizza, then sent out a short evening report. I decided to set up the tent in an open field area just outside the wooded primitive camping area, where there was better light from the setting sun to see what I was doing.

Walking for a shower was next. I don't know how long I may have been wandering around on the way back if it hadn't been for the faint circular glow off my front tire reflective strip as I shined my pocket flashlight all around.

I'd initially planned to stay here tomorrow as a day off, but after checking the weather forecast, I think I'll move on to Newton tomorrow - maybe get a motel room for two nights to wait out predicted storms. Also, I need to get caught up with journal postings, and wifi sure helps with that.

Jeff

They're shade over there that I can get to.

Today's ride: 53 miles (85 km)
Total: 206 miles (332 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	6
Comment on this entry	Comment	0