My Home State

The idea for touring in Illinois crossed my mind during last year's tour when I was in Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. During that trip every morning I'd check the forecast on my phone. It always defaulted to the forecast for my home in Morton, Illinois. Later (sometimes sooner) I'd realize that "error" and get the forecast for where I was. It was always hotter where I was, making me wish I was bicycling back in Illinois. This year I won't be able to complain about that.

August 17, 2024 - Morton, Illinois high 80F; Cheney Reservoir, Kansas high 95F

To decide where to go in Illinois, I thought, "There's the middle and the ends. Where's the middle?" Turns out, Chestnut, Illinois is the geographical center of Illinois. I marked that on a map, then drew vertical and horizontal lines through Chestnut to the borders. Connecting the border intersections gave me a loop. Everyone I showed my printout to commented on how it looked like a diamond. At the time, I considered "Illinois Diamond" as a title for the journal. But as I laid out a route according to where there are campgrounds, the shape got distorted. "Downstate Illinois" seemed a better title. Among the multitude of definitions for Downstate Illinois, I'm using "all of Illinois outside of Chicago."

My plan has me going from Morton to Chestnut, then to near the Indiana border at Forest Glen Preserve in Vermilion County, a place I've been to before. Then southwest to Cairo, riding on the Tunnel Hill Trail part of the way. North next along the Illinois Section of the Mississippi River Trail (MRT), though I will deviate some from the MRT's official routing, including getting on the Galena River Trail when I get close to Wisconsin. Using the Jane Addams Trail and the Pecatonica Prairie Trail will get me near Rockford. Then I'll catch the Kankakee River Trail on my way back to Forest Glen Preserve to close the loop. Lastly, back to Morton with some riding on the Kickapoo Rail Trail.

Illinois has awesome bicycling maps for free. I'd used an old set I have for route planning. Afterwards I ordered a new set, since I noticed some of the maps had been updated. It's a good thing I did, because they showed that two different highways I'd routed on are now expressways! As usual, my routing is from waypoint-to-waypoint. I got those 1285 points (which includes points-of-interest and some places to eat) uploaded to my three GPS units last week. The route has 907 turns, 33 places to stay, and calculates as 1556 miles. All the overnight stays are planned as camping, but I'm sure there will be some changed-to-motel evenings as I go.

Monday, July 7th became the target starting date. I'd be clear of doctor appointments by then, and not competing with folks for a camping spot during the Fourth of July weekend.

My Surly Long Haul Trucker is the bike I'll be using this year. I'll need its low gearing to get over the hills they have here in Illinois. The front brakes are still squeaking, but I have a new cantilever brake assembly to try. So, some bike maintenance and packing is what's left to do. Crunch time!

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Kathleen JonesHi 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.
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4 days ago

Jeff LeeCool! How close to Cave in Rock will you be riding?
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4 days ago

Bill ShaneyfeltThis 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.
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4 days ago

Nancy GrahamI 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. 🤗
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4 days ago

Timothy SwitzerTo Bill ShaneyfeltI 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=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&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:5561c2db,vid:dLDGxPwKgXk,st:0
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Timothy SwitzerTim,
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
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Bill ShaneyfeltBill,
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
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Kathleen JonesKathleen,
Exactly! Downstate Illinois, Upstate New York - two of a kind.
Jeff
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Jeff LeeJeff,
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
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Nancy GrahamNancy,
Thanks! We'll see how it goes.
Jeff
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3 days ago

Jeff LeeTo Jeff TeelDepending 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
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3 days ago

Jeff TeelTo Jeff LeeJeff,
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
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3 days ago

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

I'll be following your progress in your journal!

Jeff
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3 days ago