From Chicago, IL to Springfield, IL
From Chicago, IL to Springfield, IL
Ending Mileage: 
Day of Travel
Departing From
Destination
Distance (in miles)
Distance (in kilometers)
Departure Time
Arrival Time
Total Travel Time
Average Speed (in mph)
Average Speed (in kph)
Its a tough chore to drag myself out of bed this morning. My cold is making me feel like shit. I had too much to eat and drink last night with the gang. I have tentative plans with Chris and Loree and need to extricate myself from those with some degree of grace.
I know that there is no way I'm going to spend the night with Chris and her family feeling like this. I call her and leave a voice mail begging off. I call Loree. She has partied way too hard and is not up to anything today. We had already scaled plans back to just breakfast and then I get on the road. She is neither cooking nor eating breakfast this morning. She wishes me a safe journey and hangs up.
I gather all my gear -- always much harder when leaving from the sixteenth floor as opposed to the normal ground or second floor. I have to get the bike from the nearby parking garage. It is seriously cold and damp. The weather forecast is predicting rain for the next couple of days. In my mind, I hope I can make it as far as Champaign-Urbana or Decatur.
Once again, if there are two options, I will pick the wrong one. The trouble with riding in the rain is that I can't have my tank bag up on top where I can have my map or routing instructions in plain view. So I have to work from memory. And usually my memory serves me well, so I shouldn't moan so much. As I was saying. I leave central Chicago on the Dan Ryan heading south. Very early, there are two interstates that head into the southern suburbs: Interstate 55 and Interstate 57. Interstate 55 offers the most direct ride to Springfield. Of course, I commit to Interstate 57.
The rain is starting to fall as big scattered droplets. I'm prepared so it is no big deal. As I get out into the countryside, the rain becomes much harder. The temperature hasn't risen at all this morning so it is both cold and wet. Before Kankakee, I pass the small town of Manteno. I exit the interstate at a McDonalds for a quick sandwich, some time out of the rain and chance to see if the rain will abate. Well the rain looks like it is going to be pulses or waves.
Back on the road, I'm just concentrating on making the miles. I block the day off into twenty mile segments. At the end of each segment, I get to pull off the highway, dry myself a little bit and warm up. My next stop is under the eaves of a gas station. I grab some water from inside. I wait outside under the eaves next to the bait machine.
At Champaign-Urbana, I have the good fortune of two similarly numbered interstates, this time 72 and 74. And so it goes, in rain that is very hard, I pick the wrong interstate. It is nearly five miles for the next exit to present itself. And then I have to back track to I-57 to make the drive to I-72. Its not a day were extra miles are appreciated.
About half way to Decatur, the skies decide to dry up for most of the rest of the ride. At a rest stop, I hang out warming up. I have a nice chat with two truck drivers. We all agree that car drivers need better training. My beef today is the number of drivers that pass me and then immediately pull back into my lane. The next segment should get me to my planned destination of Springfield. I'm happy because I really didn't think I would make it this far today. It will make tomorrow much more pleasant.
The Motel 8 today has a great laundry room, so I get some clean clothes organized.
Tomorrow: Saint Louis
Depart Chicago on Interstate 90/ 94 heading east.
Transition onto Interstate 57 heading south.
North of Champaign-Urbana transition onto Interstate 74 heading west. Realize this is in error and turn back (10 mile extra miles).
In Champaign-Urbana, transition onto Interstate 72 heading west.
Arrive Springfield.
(c) 2001 Thomas N. Engler Revision Date: 06/04/2001
