Ride Report - Galena Illinois (Picture Heavy)

I hope you folks don't mind another ride report from me, but I wanted to share some nice pics I took along the way. My VFR ran like a dream, and survived the trip with 2 nails in the rear tire! I saw a dark red 6th gen with bags on Route 20 out near Galena, so if it was someone here, say hi!

I left nice and early to try and beat traffic.


It was a bright and very sunny morning - I was glad I was riding west.


Chasing my shadow on Route 20 near Hampshire, Il.


I stopped just off Route 20 for a drink.


Route 20 west of Rockford.


Traffic was moving along well.


I took a great road called Stagecoach Trail when I got to Lena, Il.






Stagecoach Trail went through a tiny town called Warren.



Stagecoach Trail west of Warren.



Nice trees in front of a tiny house near Apple River.



Stagecoach Trail heading west again.







The Galena History Museum.



Downtown Galena's flood gates on Main St.



Riding down Main St.







The buildings in the downtown area are built on higher and higher ground.



I stopped at this mansion for a break and noticed that I had a couple of new friends along for a ride.







Since I had 2 nails in my rear tire I decided it was best to turn around and head for home. This is Route 20 east of Galena. I'm approaching a lookout tower.





This is the view from the tower area (I didn't climb it this time).




I stopped to add some air to my tire. It had lost 6 psi so far.



Route 84 headed south towards Savannah.





Mississippi Palasades State Park is a beautiful place.




Route 84 approaching Route 64.



Messing with the camera at speed on an empty Route 64.











Nuclear power plant cooling towers off in the distance in Byron, Il.



Crossing the Rock River in Byron, Il.



The Fox River in St. Charles, Il.



I got home by 2:45 and covered 338 miles - many of those with 2 nails in my rear tire.



I pulled the nails from the tire at home, and it went flat in about 20 seconds.

 

Wow, very nice! I'm almost inspired to pay a visit to some family up in Ohio as an excuse to check out those sights.

Those "messing with the camera" shots are really awesome. I hope you at least have some safety leash tied to the camera! I might do that too sometime but only if I can wrap the straps around my arm in case of a drop.

 

Great ride report, I always like seeing pictures from different parts of the country :thumbsup:

 

I bought it this year with only 5800 miles on it, so it's practically new. I went over it with my polisher and a couple of 3M products and the paint is like a mirror. It is garage kept, but I want to get a stretch cover for it while at work so the sun doesn't fade things...

I am really happy with my decision to buy the 5th gen after going back and forth (5th vs 6th gen) for months!

 

Neat ride report....... I used to live in Peoria,..... so alot of that is familiar.

Thanks for sharing. !

 

These were taken with my wife's Canon A530. It's been a great camera and takes some really nice pictures. It fits in the left side pocket of my tank bag so I can grab it fairly easily (after pulling my left glove off). A handful of the pics were adjusted in Photoshop, but most of them are just as they came off the camera.

I have a new Dunlop on order and should be here next week. I've been riding since 1994 and have never had a puncture in a motorcycle tire. Hopefully after this I'll go another 14 years, but I'll still carry my plug/CO2 kit!

 

Stagecoach is a great road. If you ever get back this way, ( I live in Freeport), When you get to Scales Mound, head south on Elizabeth Rd. That's another excellent road to ride.

Just did the ride Last Monday.