US-89. Return Trip Day 1. "Illinois to Pierce Nebraska"

July 22, 2016.  The goal is to ride from Roscoe, Illinois to Pierce, Nebraska. About 550 miles.

I left Illinois at 6:00 am. The night before it had rained hard and the roads were still a bit wet. My plan was to go down the I-51 and meet up with the I-88. The 51 was shut down so I meandered down to around Dixon, Illinois on the 2, which I should have done in the first place.  Dixon, Illinois was the primary town Ronald Reagan grew up in.

While stopping along the Rock River to get a mid morning snack at McDonalds, an old grizzled guy, with a beard and sizeable midrange sitting in a booth tells me "That jacket looks hot, you sure you want to wear it"? I look at the guy and I can see him in my mind him sitting on a Harley with a viking horned helmet.  I respond "Where I am going, you really need a jacket like this".  I leave without further comment.

 I then get to the 88 and found out it is now a toll road. Either I forgot or never knew. But, I was not going to drop coins in from a motorcycle,  so once again I meandered using the 2 into Iowa. I finally got back to the 88 after much weaving around the countryside. In Iowa the 88 is not a toll road. I then went head down for the next 9 hours to get to Willow Creek State Park, near Pierce Nebraska. Really nothing to report during the day other than going against the wind about 95% of the time.

I pulled into willow creek park expecting it to be packed and found out that it was at best 10% full. I picked a spot next to the facilities, which was a mistake because a security light comes on when it gets dark. The humidity must have been 95% because it was just dripping off my nose all night long. No sleeping bag required.

Before going to bed, I ride into town and eat at Taylors restaurant. I have many a great conversations with the locals and other out of towners at the bar.  One fun couple at the bar challenges me with the question "Would you trust me if I told you something?"  I tell them "Yes, because you are from Nebraska".  I am not sure that was what they wanted to hear but it was the truth. I think I would have trust anyone in the restaurant that night.  It was just that kind of town.

About 4:00 AM a thunderstorm rolls in hard and rocked the tent for the next 2 hours. The tent does very well and never leaked a drop. The bike was safe and secure under its cover. A good way to ride out the storm. I felt good that I could go through any weather and make it just fine.