Peotone to Utica photos

There are lots of photos of this day, because it was varied and pretty. As usual, the photos are in random order.  Phones aren't computers.

This is in the Illinois-Michigan Canal (IMC) trail.  Notice how the bridge is out.  We'll come back to that later.

The IMC had several camping spots along it.  This one was by far the most developed. I'd have stayed here if I'd had enough water with me.

View from the IMC

Where I did camp, in the trees along the Illinois River.

The IMC  was spanned by some pretty cool bridges.

The hell that is Minas Morgul (Joliet). Notice how the road I was on has zero bike infrastructure, yet was the main bike route through town.
 The IMC trail was pretty overgrown at times. I've been told several times that Illinois is broke.

Views from the IMC



There was lots of the Giant Purple Swamp Wheat around, which makes me think that the entire field I saw of it was not meant to be a crop.

Along the Illinois River near where I camped.

This was the trail into Minas Morgul.
 

Minas Morgul did have some OK views.
 

Remember that top picture?  After going down a steep bank I got to walk my bike over a 2x4 go get across.  It was sketchtastic!
 

The IMC is not well maintained, but still better than that POS trail in upper Wisconsin!

The canal is a bit dried up here... and the trail is a brown lawn.

The path into Minas Morgul

Illinois likes to close paths (this was the IMC) without posting why or detours.  This one had a bridge out and it took me awhile to get around that and re-find the path.

Minas Morgul

Early in the morning.  This is what it looks like to lose at County Road Roulette.  Illinois has a much greater percentage of gravel roads than Indiana, so... it was a hard morning.

View from the IMC




View from near where I camped on the Illnois River
 

Dinner Time!