The Chainlink

Today's Ride in NC IL

This doesn't seem to get done very often here,  but I thought I'd give it a go.  I doubt we'll have very many days over 50 for a while, so I wanted to make the best of the afternoon.  Was disappointed not to have any sun, so things look pretty dreary.  Still it was great to be out, even with the 20+ mph cross winds.  Location is southwest of Peru, IL, near the Illinois river.  The creek is Bureau Creek, the lake is Lake Rawson.  The depot is in the town of Bureau Junction, on the former Rock Island main line.  It's in remarkably good shape, considerering how long ago the Rock went out of business.  I can hardly imagine that there used to be passenger service in so many small towns.

  marsh land, IL River in trees in the background.headed home with the sky looking like it might rain, but only got a few drops

 

I got 44 miles in on a windy day in November, and didn't get wet, or flat.  A pretty good day any way you look at it. 

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Permalink Reply by ilter on November 6, 2011 at 9:17pm
a ride report, cool & thank you!
Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on November 6, 2011 at 10:23pm
Beautiful photos!
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 7, 2011 at 8:21am
Thanks for including us. We city riders def need to make a trip out to your neck of the woods sometime. Metra takes us to you, correct?
Permalink Reply by Duppie on November 7, 2011 at 11:37am

Not Metra. Bureau, IL is about 80 miles from either Joliet or Elburn, which is as far as Metra will take you.

But you can take Amtrak to Princeton, IL, which is in the vicinity. Not sure about the bike-on-board situation on that line/station tough.

Julie Hochstadter said:
Thanks for including us. We city riders def need to make a trip out to your neck of the woods sometime. Metra takes us to you, correct?
Permalink Reply by mark stetson on November 7, 2011 at 12:03pm
Actually Amtrak gets you here.    Princeton is the stop for the area where the pics are taken.  There's also nice riding (meaning it's not totally flat and featureless) around Kewanee, but not as many trains stop there.  Mendota is the 1st stop that's really clear of the burbs, and there are nice low traffic roads, but the terrain tends to be flatter. 
Permalink Reply by Lizzy M. on November 7, 2011 at 12:08pm
Lovely! Thanks for sharing.
Permalink Reply by Dave Jacque on November 7, 2011 at 1:36pm
Looks like a great ride. Thanks!
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on November 7, 2011 at 3:32pm

Amtrak definitely stops in Princeton. However, this station does not have baggage service.  There are 3 trains that stop in Princeton.  If you want to take a full-sized bike there (instead of a folding bike), you're limited to the Illinois Service, which allows roll-on bike access (with a reservation).  With a folding bike, you can take it on any train.  If you go to Princeton, I highly recommend Kramer's Kitchen - good deli.

 

The situation is the same for service to Kewanee - beautiful farm country with rolling hills.  The town of Kewanee itself is mostly bike friendly, with some beautiful neighborhoods of tree-lined streets and old houses.  Princeton also has beautiful neighborhoods.


mark stetson said:

Actually Amtrak gets you here.    Princeton is the stop for the area where the pics are taken.  There's also nice riding (meaning it's not totally flat and featureless) around Kewanee, but not as many trains stop there.  Mendota is the 1st stop that's really clear of the burbs, and there are nice low traffic roads, but the terrain tends to be flatter. 

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