Day road trip...exploring

[KnightFan26917]

If you haven't explored your area ... driving roads or being a "tourist" to see what you find ... I highly suggest you take time to DO IT. And, yes, that includes myself.

I've mentioned before how I explore the back roads west of Elgin when I'm driving my Monte Carlos. I've discovered some neat, secluded areas (particularly long stretches of back roads!), as well as some interesting short cuts. This time, a day before my birthday, my Aunt Chris and I went for a drive to explore some areas in central/western/northern IL.

Our trip (Sunday, 09/18/2011) was preceded by a conversation we had this past spring. We were talking about the drive out to Mt Morris IL, particularly when IL RT 64 was partially closed for road construction, ~8 years ago. At the time, part of the detour around the construction area took us on a long stretch of back road where we watched a farm house turn into a "castle". We wondered if the house had ever been completed ... and, if so, what it looked like today. So ... we decided to go check it out. I was quite disappointed to see it unfinished and abandoned.

We also went to Byron IL, Durand IL, Freeport IL and Lena IL, taking mostly back roads between towns. We only hit I-39 coming back home.


Some pics from our adventure...

...Lindenwood IL, looking at the farmhouse with the "castle" addition to the back and both sides:

...Lindenwood IL, the house and barn:

...Lindenwood IL, part of the "castle" addition:

...NE of Byron IL, haunted house:

...Durand IL:

...Lena IL, museum:

...Lena IL, Stagecoach Trail:

...Freeport IL, Little Cubs Field, marque:

...Freeport IL, Little Cubs Field, Harry:

...Freeport IL, LIttle Cubs Field, scoreboard:

If you want to see all of the pics, I have 'em on FB:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2457510359364.2146820.1300282613&l=145446f357&type=1



Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.models.RadioShows.legos.HO.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"You never know all the riches you own 'till someone takes them away" __ John Schneider __ 'Take The Long Way Home'

Click to read more...

 

[Shadow99]

I used to drive around a lot at night just to cruise and clear my mind. I would drive until i had no clue where the hell i was. Then the fun part was trying to find my way back. I found some pretty cool places. And connected streets that i never knew connected before. Im pretty good at knowing my directions now. I usually enjoy going south, down route 83 or just going west.

 

[CrunkMaro]

I used to drive around a lot at night just to cruise and clear my mind. I would drive until i had no clue where the hell i was. Then the fun part was trying to find my way back. I found some pretty cool places. And connected streets that i never knew connected before. Im pretty good at knowing my directions now. I usually enjoy going south, down route 83 or just going west.

same. going west on higgins usually leads to a good time

as does going west on il-64

 

[Shadow99]

I took north ave as far as i could one night. It turned into a 1 lane road! Not sure if it was considered north ave anymore or not.

 

[CrunkMaro]

I took north ave as far as i could one night. It turned into a 1 lane road! Not sure if it was considered north ave anymore or not.

eh i guess. turns into main then you end up thru st. charles into sycamore. drove out that way july 4th weekend. saw about 4 firework shows...just pulled over on the side of the road, watched, drove on lol.

 

[Chester Copperpot]

64 is nice when you leave St Charles going west. Picked up an ex of mine from NIU for the Marine Corps ball last year and had a blast driving on that road with her screaming next to me

Wish I could go to Photobucket on my work computer but I got lost in Wisconsin right by the border one night and found "JB" junction.

 

[CrunkMaro]

64 is nice when you leave St Charles going west. Picked up an ex of mine from NIU for the Marine Corps ball last year and had a blast driving on that road with her screaming next to me

Wish I could go to Photobucket on my work computer but I got lost in Wisconsin right by the border one night and found "JB" junction.

yeah. even driving thru st charles is fun. quaint lil city...isn't it one of the "main street cities"?

 

[KnightFan26917]

I used to drive around a lot at night just to cruise and clear my mind. I would drive until i had no clue where the hell i was. Then the fun part was trying to find my way back. I found some pretty cool places. And connected streets that i never knew connected before. Im pretty good at knowing my directions now. I usually enjoy going south, down route 83 or just going west.

Heh ... I've been doing that "finding connected streets" the last few years whenever I drive my MCs out west of Elgin, around Plato Center, Burlington, Hampshire, etc.

I haven't been on a "midnight cruise" for a LONG time. I used to do those almost nightly "back in the day". I should do that again sometime ... soon.

I took north ave as far as i could one night. It turned into a 1 lane road! Not sure if it was considered north ave anymore or not.

Hmmm....how far west did you get? Remember which town you ended up last?

yeah. even driving thru st charles is fun. quaint lil city...isn't it one of the "main street cities"?

Yep, I believe so!


*
I don't have any good pics of my hometown. It's tough to be a "tourist" in one's own area, but I need to take time to do that. In the meantime, a friend sent me this video, which is a good "snapshot" of Elgin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUYivFVXMpM


I've shared plenty of pics I've taken of area roads west of Elgin, but here is one I took this year during cruise nights. It is Rookie's in Elgin, along Randall Rd ... a "new" area of town:

Then, on Sunday, 10/02/2011, I "toured" a bit more, and took these 8 shots as I drove my cars:

...Plato Center IL, an old truck advertising a business on Dittman Rd:

...Campton Hills IL, Burlington Rd at IL RT 47, which connects Route 66, the Lincoln Highway and US RT 20:

...E of Sycamore IL, IL RT 64:

...Sycamore IL, Speedway:

...Sycamore IL, IL RT 23:

...N of Sycamore IL, farmhouse along IL RT 23:

...N of Burlington IL, pond along Baseline Rd:

...Burlington IL, old schoolhouse (1872) along Ramm Rd:

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic
CHD.MCs.CC + RoadTrips.models.RadioShows.legos.HO.us66 = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"Don't you remember?" __ Starship __ 'We Built This City'

 

[Shadow99]

Lilly Lake/campton hills it looks like on google.

 

[bikrboy128]

Wish I could go to Photobucket on my work computer but I got lost in Wisconsin right by the border one night and found "JB" junction.

love that intersection

 

[KnightFan26917]

Lilly Lake/campton hills it looks like on google.

Yep, something like that. The signs for Campton Hills seem to be in odd places along several roads in that area. Not sure exactly where CH's "city limits" are.....


*
I've explored a bit more (big surprise)...!



ELGIN-SPECIFIC...
pics are few (if existent at all) from me also partly because I don't like driving around town in traffic; I prefer the "back roads".

...10/15/2011, downtown Elgin IL, EPD, Douglas Ave:

...10/15/2011, downtown Elgin IL, Highland Ave at Douglas Ave:

BACK ROADS...
are ripe for exploring. They don't see much traffic (making it easy to stop and take pics) and "hide" interesting things.

...10/09/2011, Burlington IL, Allen Rd:

...10/09/2011, Plato Center IL, Muirhead Rd at Plank Rd:

RR PATHS...
are created when old train tracks are torn up. I've taken/shared pictures of different RR tracks along roads, so now 2 pics of one such bike/pedestrian path on a former RR line.

...10/09/2011, Sycamore IL, path along IL RT 64 at Peplow Rd, looking W:

...10/15/2011, Sycamore IL, path along IL RT 64 at Peplow Rd, looking E:

OLD ROADS & ABANDONED PLACES...
are fascinating. Old roads connect the country, hold history (especially abandoned places) and have some cool people along them. I've taken/shared pictures of both, particularly along Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway.

...10/09/2011, Sycamore IL, abandoned 64 Motor Court, next to the Sycamore Speedway:

...10/09/2011, Hampshire IL, Allen's Corner Restaurant along "old road" US 20 [travels through Elgin IL via "bypass" & "business" versions], which I've driven on the East AND West coasts during my last 2 road trips (next 2 pics)...:

...07/07/2011, near Eddyville OR, traveling west on "old road" US 20 on my Coast-to-Coast Road Trip:

...08/08/2010, near Brimfield MA, traveling east on "old road" US 20 on my Nor'Easter Trek Road Trip:

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic
* PRE-SURGERY PARTY = ~5:30p-10:30p, Saturday, 10/29/2011 at Beef Villa, 1225 W Spring St, S Elgin IL *
"Don't make it hard on your heart" __ Tanya Tucker __ 'If It Don't Come Easy'

 

[hellraiser319]

...E of Sycamore IL, IL RT 64:

...Sycamore IL, Speedway:

...Sycamore IL, IL RT 23:

...N of Sycamore IL, farmhouse along IL RT 23:

Some familiar sights... I haven't been east on 64 in a while. That farmhouse on 23 creeps me out for some reason, top of a hill, seems like some sort of scary movie thing... haha

 

[KnightFan26917]

That farmhouse on 23 creeps me out for some reason, top of a hill, seems like some sort of scary movie thing... haha

LOL! Is it the house itself ... or just the angle of the picture? I'd love to get a chance to check that house out a bit more up close and personal.


*
A few more exploratory pics, starting with a recent pic I took of my nephew. Talk about an explorer! It's hard to believe he will be 3 in a few weeks:

...Melms Rd, Hampshire IL:

...Ramm Rd, Burlington IL:

...Plato Rd, Plato Center IL:

...US RT 20, Elgin IL:

...Nesler Rd, Elgin IL:

...Spring St, S Elgin IL:

...IL RT 47, Morris IL:

...Lincoln Highway, Franklin Grove IL:

...Route 66, Pontiac IL:

Cort | 38.m.IL | pigValve + paceMaker | 5 Monte Carlos + 1 Caprice Classic
* PRE-SURGERY PARTY = ~5:30p-10:30p, Saturday, 10/29/2011 at Beef Villa, 1225 W Spring St, S Elgin IL *
"Your friends have shown a kink in the single life" __ The Raconteurs __ 'Steady As She Goes'