Kickapoo Rail Trail -- Le Tour Goes to Oakwood

Taking advantage of CEO's Dr. appointment in Danville which lasts around 2 hours
The Edge with Le Tour onboard heads for Kickapoo
Not Kickapoo per se this time, but as an entry point to the Rail Trail
About to cross the North Fork which will join the Vermilion River south of here
Driving west on Hungry Hollow Road
So named for when the North Fork would flood years ago and people living here were cut off from Danville for days at a time
Someone remarked they must live in Hungry Hollow with little food available when that happens
And the name stuck

This scene is predictive of what Illinois would have looked like had there not been human intervention
Woodlands were expanding up the stream valleys and into the prairie lands
 Settlement and turning the prairies into farmlands stopped that progression,


Edge and Le Tour arrive at a propitious place to start the ride
Edge did all the climbing  :)
(Someone was thinking for a change)
Not the sharpest pencil in the drawer -- but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express once
And a short ride to the Fair Grounds and entrance to the rail trail

Strip mine pond near parking area

Riding west on Skyline Drive

Interstate 74 westbound toward Champaign/Urbana  LOUD!
When completed, the rail trail will run nearly 30 miles between there and Danville

South end of I 74 bridge, Skyline Drive continues

That is one steep downhill!
Always disappears when photographed
I turn to the Fairgrounds before having to deal with it down or up

Entrance to the Fair Grounds
Closed to vehicular traffic
Actually a 'backdoor' way in
Apparently, it use is not encouraged

Past the non-photo-worthy Fairgrounds approaching the rail trail

Eastern terminus of the rail trail for now
It will extend into Kickapoo
Little did I know there is a far better place to start the trail

 Riding west toward the trestle

Past the trestle, last night's storms have brought down a tree branch
I did NOT bunny hop over it!

Path cleared, continue west toward Oakwood, Illinois

Typical scene

Interesting Weed



Arrived at Oakwood well south of the main town
The trail continues west and terminates
Work continues between St. Joseph and here
Turned around and headed back east


Entrance to the Rail Trail from US 150 west of Danville

Here is the main trail head, just off US Rte 150 west of Danville
Just west of the trestle
Lots of parking and facilities



View South from the trestle

View North from trestle


The Railroad Trestle is the star attraction of the entire trail which begins on the west end at Urbana, Illinois
The abandoned rail line was owned by Conrail who generously offered to donate the right of way to the Conservation Districts of Champaign and Vermilion counties
Then . . .
Conrail was dissolved and merged with CSX who then became the owners
CSX demanded 3 million dollars for the right of way -- which was a major set back to the trail development

Heading back to the Edge
I 74 East Bound
"East bound and down -- Load it up and truck it!"
My first turtle rescue, except it wasn't really a rescue, it had already crossed the road
Little green specks on the shell are duckweed plants from the pond it exited
I join Bob's turtle rescue team  :)

Returning to Danville
Could stop off for a cool one at "The Bear" tavern
I'm guessing that place could get a bit interesting from time to time


A shortish 8 mile ride altogether, but a refreshing change of scene
Starting someplace in Kickapoo would lengthen the ride possibilities -- that would involve some steep climbs and descents
















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