Skirting The SW Corner of Chicago to Lima

[tom42n]

If you are coming from the the West / North West (NW of I80 & I39) at or above about Lattitude 41 degrees North, there is a good liesurely way to skirt the race track around the SW corner of the Chicago/ Lake Michigan.

As soon as I get an old write up cleaned up I will post it. If you can't wait email me at tom42n@kconline.com. Essentially south side of Kankakee river to Kankakee then to IN 14 and US30 strait east to Lima. I live right on the route in Indiana.

TomEA

[tom42n]

Getting Around Chicago, on your way to Beemerville (5/7/2005)
tom42n@kconline.com

Are you traveling to Beemerville from North and West of Chicago and dread thinking
about the mess around the Southwest, South, and Southeast corner of Chicago,
including Northwest Indiana? Do you lay awake at night thinking about the jammed
construction stops, the hungry toll stops, the BIG eighteen wheelers riding your tail light,
all the way around Chicago and well into Indiana. Would you like the peace and Zen of
following the ‘little black lines’ through the open midwestern countryside to Beemerville?
. . . . Then this route is for you.

The closest US Route south of I80 is the Lincoln Highway (US30) but it is almost as
bad, in this area and cluttered with stop lights and malls. Then comes US24, but it is a
little too far south. So let’s go between US30 and US24 and follow the ‘little black lines’.
I have been this route, from Winamac, IN several times while heading to Minnesota to
visit my son and his family, as well as heading to the Wisconsin Dells Rally. I have also
directed others along this route.

Lets begin at I 80 and Morris IL. This is a good place to start because I 80 takes a slight
jog to the NE toward the South side of Chicago and continues on into NW Indiana. And
IL47 crosses I80 at this point. The approximate lat/lon coordinates are: N41° 23.218',
W88° 25.488'. We are heading to Bemmerville, Lima OH, which is at: N40° 43.578',
W84° 03.297. Lima OH is almost straight East of Morris IL. About 4 ½ degrees (230
miles) to the east and slightly, 1/2 degree, south, (45 miles or so). .

The travel plan below is organized as “The Route”, followed by “Alternatives and Side
Trips’. This route will take you across wide open spaces with open fields of corn, soy
beans, pasture and other crops, along rivers, along rolling state highways, through
several small towns of middle America. The largest city, which is circumvented via
Interstate, is Ft Wayne (home of BMW Dealer- Woodson Motorsports
http://www.woodsonbmw.com).


“The Route”
The route attempts to optimize the following-, a) minimal route changes, b) reasonable
shortest & fastest, b) follow the little black lines (State or US, marked Highways,
minimize county roads). The route with road change intersections and approx. mileage,
which you should be able to follow on your state maps, follows: (leg number with
approx. leg mileage is shown in parens to the left of each leg description).

(Leg # - /cume miles) Direction to, next turn, (nearby)
(Start) I 80 exit 112 to IL 47 South, Exit 112, left, turn right (south),
(Morris IL exit)

(Leg 1- 8/8 miles) go south on IL 47 to IL 113 East - turn left. , (south of Morris IL)

(Leg 2- 34/42 miles) go easterly and southeasterly on IL113 East to IL 17 North -
turn right. (in Kankakee IL). Partly along the south bank of the
Kankakee river.

(Leg 3- 14/56 miles) go easterly on IL 17 North (joins IL 1 east of Kankakee, IL) to
IL 114 - turn right (at Momence IL)

(Leg 4- 8/64 miles) go east on IL 114 East to IN 10 East - go straight (at IL/IN state
Line)

(Leg 5- 15/79 miles) go east on IN 10 East to IN 110 East - go straight (south of
Demotte IN)

(Leg 6- 3/82 miles) go east on IN 110 East to US 231 South - turn right (southeast
of Demotte IN)

(Leg 7- 8/90 miles) go south US 231 South to IN 14 East - turn left (north of
Rensselaer IN)

(Leg 8- 106/196 miles) go east on IN 14 East to I 69 North - turn left (West side of Ft
Wayne IN) bypass around Ft Wayne to US 30 East.

(Leg 9- 11/207 miles) go northerly on I 69 North to I 469 South (north side of Ft
Wayne)

(Leg 10- 15/222 miles) go southerly on I 469 South to US 30 East (East side of Ft
Wayne)

(Leg 11- 42/264 miles) go southeasterly on US 30 East to OH 309 East (east of Lima
OH)

(Leg 12- 15/279 miles) go easterly on OH 309 East to Allen County Fairgrounds
(Beemerville) East of Lima.

(End) Beemerville

Total Miles is about 280. My Router (DeLorme) says this route is about the same
distance as the interstate route and takes 7 1/4 hours, about 1 1/4 hours longer than the
interstate route (I80/IN49/US30/I75). And of course your YT&DMV.

“Alternatives and Side Trips”,
Side Trip/Alternative 1
Instead of the south bank of the Kankakee river follow the north bank via IL102.
One way to get across the river is to take I80 to I55 south to CR44 south to,
Kankakee Road, to IL102. There are other ways. Take IL102 to US45 south to
IL17 in Kankakee, just east of the start of Leg 3. This route goes by the Kankakee
River State Park (see below).

Side Trip/Alternative 2
Marti’s Restaurant is a neat place to eat. On the banks of the Kankakee River
just north of Demotte Indiana. About 9 miles North of the end of Leg 5. See
http://www.emartisplace.com/ , for more details and directions.

Side Trip/Alternative 3 (Kerstings Motorcycle Museum)
See the many restored motorcycles in Jim Kerstings MC Museum south of North
Judson. For more details see http://www.kerstingscycle.com/muse.html. He is
located on IN39 between IN14 and IN10. The museum is about 22 miles after the
start of Leg 8.then 6 miles North of IN14 on IN39.

Side Trip/Alternative 4 (IN114 may be a little faster)
West of Ft Wayne IN14 flows through the rolling hills and farmland of Indiana.
IN114 at Akron parallels IN14 to the south. It is straighter and flatter and a little
faster. It comes into the start of Leg 9 about 3 miles to the South via US24.

Side Trip/Alternative 5 (Woodson Motorsports)
Need to stop at a BMW Dealer. Continue on East on Illinois Rd at the end of Leg
8 for about 2 miles to Woodards Motorsports. See http://www.woodsonbmw.com
for more details.

Side Trip/Alternative 6 (Bypass downtown Lima)
If you prefer, instead of going through downtown Lima. Stay on US30 at the end
of Leg 9, then South on I75, then East on OH309 to Bemmerville.

Side trips/Alternatives 7 (Overnight Camping and Lodging)
Motels:
There are motels in the following towns/cities: Morris IL, Kankakee IL, Winamac
IN, Rochester IN, Ft Wayne IN. There may be some others.

Campgrounds:
-Kankakee River State Park, about 13 miles South East of Wilmington IL on 102.
More details at http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R2/KANKAKEE.HTM
-Tippecanoe River State Park, about 4 miles north of Winamac IN on US35.
Winamac is about 30 miles east of the start of Leg 8 .More details at
http://www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/properties/park_tippecanoeriver.html
-Broken Arrow Campground: Is a nice private campground about 3 miles North of
Winamac. More details at http://www.hikercentral.com/campgrounds/104771.html

Private Overnight camping:
-DanZ’s- On the shore of beautiful Bass Lake. DanZ’s]s is bout 10 miles North of
Winamac just east of US35 on IN10. Contact fellow BMW MC rider
dzimbric@mchsi.com for details.
-Tom42n’s- In the woods or near the sheep, or the chickens, or the dogs, or the
cats at Tom42n’s little farm acres. Tom42n is located about 3 miles East then
North of Winamac off of IN14. Contact fellow BMW MC rider
tom42n@kconline.com for details.

(if you would like an MSWorks formatted copy of this document, contact me at tom42n@kconline.com)

[BubbaZanetti]

RT 30, through Chicago Heights, not fun...................


wish i'd had these directions last fall, hahah

[BradfordBenn]

Very cool. Iron Mike and I were on some of these roads today. Something about going to the Sturgis Rally by way of lots of other ways...

[tom42n]

I was planning on hitting Stugis myself. But too many things on my list to get ready to leave on a 'visit my kids' trip to Juneau AK and Portland OR- flying on Tuesday morn. Besides the wx was too nice for a Sturgis Rally. . . . no cold, blowing, rain. /Tom42n ;)

[lawman]

Tom- thanks for the badly needed info regarding an alternative to Chicago traffic; on the way out I am already set up for the Lake Michigan Ferry; I do plan on your route on the return to "God's County"; hope to run into you at Lima or any year at Sturgis....

[Unregistered]

no problem lawman. need any more info let me know. tom42n@kconline.com

[jgr451]

Please?
I have been looking at the lake ferry option from Milwaukee;also driving the Youper and crossing the Mackinac Bridge.

Anything to avoid Rounding the Horn!!!ah the horror!!

[BradfordBenn]

Well someone owes me a beer now, cause I just made this a sticky :thumb :brad

[YB in IN]

See the many restored motorcycles in Jim Kerstings MC Museum south of North
Judson. For more details see http://www.kerstingscycle.com/muse.html. He is
located on IN39 between IN14 and IN10. The museum is about 22 miles after the
start of Leg 8.then 6 miles North of IN14 on IN39.


This is well worth a stop to see. My dad and I took a ride up there a few years ago and there were some very interesting things to see.

[dzimbric]

See the many restored motorcycles in Jim Kerstings MC Museum south of North
Judson. For more details see http://www.kerstingscycle.com/muse.html. He is
located on IN39 between IN14 and IN10. The museum is about 22 miles after the
start of Leg 8.then 6 miles North of IN14 on IN39.


This is well worth a stop to see. My dad and I took a ride up there a few years ago and there were some very interesting things to see.

See side trip No.3 in Tom's post and yes there are some beemers in the museum.

[dzimbric]

Well someone owes me a beer now, cause I just made this a sticky :thumb :brad
Your beer is in the refridgerator in the shop. Come by and drink it before I do. :drink :wave

We just put the pontoon in the lake today. Bring momma and the kids.

[selil]

This is why you might consider alternative routes http://pws.indot.org/pws/nw

Since I live in the middle of all that I might ride on around the construction and get some pictures of the holes with no bottom.... Hmmm the GS riders might like that though... How about four hour delays for construction. Never ending traffic jams.. Semi Trucks two deep nose to tail and giggling drivers talking about putting motorcycles into the dirt.... Aww the glory of a commute on the north shore of Indiana

[BradfordBenn]

This is why you might consider alternative routes http://pws.indot.org/pws/nw

Since I live in the middle of all that I might ride on around the construction and get some pictures of the holes with no bottom.... Hmmm the GS riders might like that though... How about four hour delays for construction. Never ending traffic jams.. Semi Trucks two deep nose to tail and giggling drivers talking about putting motorcycles into the dirt.... Aww the glory of a commute on the north shore of Indiana

These are the reasons I never visit Sam in Indiana, always have to go someplace else.

[BradfordBenn]

Your beer is in the refridgerator in the shop. Come by and drink it before I do. :drink :wave

We just put the pontoon in the lake today. Bring momma and the kids.

Hmmm I am gone for the next few weeks. Something about work getting in the way of riding.

[BobUlrich]

Here's something else to consider, especially if you use the IN114 alternate. Stop at Mr. Dave's in North Manchester for a pork tenderloin sandwich. I was with a group from Cincinnati on our way to the Mini Rally this year, when we stopped here for lunch. :thumb

Bobhttp://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=652

Ooh, hope I get the link right!

[dzimbric]

Here's something else to consider, especially if you use the IN114 alternate. Stop at Mr. Dave's in North Manchester for a pork tenderloin sandwich. I was with a group from Cincinnati on our way to the Mini Rally this year, when we stopped here for lunch. :thumb

Bobhttp://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=652

Ooh, hope I get the link right!

Yum ;)

[lorazepam]

Here's something else to consider, especially if you use the IN114 alternate. Stop at Mr. Dave's in North Manchester for a pork tenderloin sandwich. I was with a group from Cincinnati on our way to the Mini Rally this year, when we stopped here for lunch. :thumb

Bobhttp://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=652

Ooh, hope I get the link right!

sounds like a road trip for me soon! I love pork tenderloin sandwiches. Lettuce tomato and mayo, MMMMMMMMMMMMM

[rlitavecz]

I posted this on the st.com forum, I see that you guys are on top of this! Chicago is terrible to ride through! Here is what I wrote:
OK, so if you want to go to Lima and you live west of Chicago, what's the best route?
I'm gonna give some advice (wanted or not) as I live in Construction, Indiana and ride through it everyday.
1. Try to ride around Chicago. I don't mean on I-294, I mean around like through Indy or take the ferry across Lake Michigan from Milwaukee. The traffic is horrible and I-80/94 is under big time construction from I-294 junction in Illinois to I-65 in Indiana. They are adding lanes. Lots of jogs, 1000s of trucks. Any mishap means that you will be parked for hours. I-90 is also a mess as they close lanes all the time and traffic from I-80/94 tries to find an alternative. I-90 goes through the city and is a toll road, not a good place to ride!
2. If you must go this way, travel at off peak hours. This means 7PM to 5AM. The road gets positively jammed during the day
3. If you are real good at map reading or GPS'ing (my new word ), try to take secondary roads south of the city. Suggestions in Indiana are state road 10 or 2. These both connect with I-65 and are not bad as motorcycle roads.
4. Try Rte. 30 as an alternative to the slab when you get east of I-65. Slower, sure, but an easy ride through a few smaller towns until you get to Fort Wayne where you jump on I-69 and circle around the city to the north and get back on 30. From I-65 to Lima is about 3 hours.

I hope this saves someone from sitting on the I-94 parking lot. Ride safe. Rob

[BradfordBenn]

Thanks Rob. Welcome to the fun!

[dzimbric]

Just a post to keep this thread alive, Chicago constuction has weekend road closures on 394 and 94. :clap :clap :clap

[SCDorman]

Tom - I am thinking about generally following your route, but staying on IN-10 all the way to US30 at Etna Green. Are there any problems with that route that you know of?

Thanks!

Steve

[dzimbric]

I was on that route two weeks ago, no problems at all. When you pass by Bass Lake, stop at the house or give a wave. We are .2 miles past the stop sign at the south end of the lake.
Look for a red house with a big sailboat sitting behind the garage on the lake side of the road.
6795 S State Road 10


We are having a party/campout for Festival Weekend the foillowing weekend and are inviting anyone who wants to come from the forum.

Dan Zimbrich

[Hodag]

screw it, I'm jumping into the mouth of the beast. my route takes me directly through it, or maybe hwy 30 sounds good.

south hwy 90 through rockford to east on hwy52 to hwy 30 to beer tent

I now think 2 hours slow riding is better than 2 hours in traffic

[tom42n]

IN10 as you state is a good plan. I haven't been on all of it for a few months, but I do not believe there is any construction and the part east of bass lake was resurfaced last year. Actually there are a probably a few more twisties if you want to call them that on that route as it goes around a few lakes. It passes north f Kerstings MC museum at North Judson . . . and Baleys a huge discount dept store at the NE corner of 10 and 39. US30 will see a few stop lights through warsaw but in general is ok.... There is some construction on I69 to I459 around NW fortwayne. US 30 is pretty much clear sailing once you east of Valporaso. Have fun.

Good Riding
TomEA




Tom - I am thinking about generally following your route, but staying on IN-10 all the way to US30 at Etna Green. Are there any problems with that route that you know of?

Thanks!

Steve

[Hotspice]

Bahhhhhhhh, I just activated my I-Pass so I'm ready to take whatever Milwaukee-Lima via Chicago can throw at me.. Err wait.. I think last time I did the Chicago Express lane I ended up in a 3 care fender bender :doh ..

Perhaps I'll look at a map this weekend..

[dzimbric]

I went over to the in-laws yesterday in the cage. They live off 94 at the IL border, Man what a mess. They have posted road closings for the construction of a new bridge on I-94 near 394/94 split with closings at night and weekends from 15 minutes to 8 hours.

Mark, if you want to go through Chicago take 90E out of the city and then south on IN49 to pick up US30. You will miss the slow sections of 30. When I was commuting to Green Bay last year I would pick up 41 at the WI border, It runs back into 94 just north of the city and you miss the tolls. Time is about the same, Stopping for tolls or rolling on 41.

When are you leaving? :drink

[SCDorman]

I've ridden Chicagoland three times by bike in the last year, twice on the toll roads and once trying back roads. Each time I ended up in a situation that caused me serious oilhead overheating worries. (Not to mention me sitting on the bike for long periods in full gear on 90 degree days).

But we Iowa boys always have trouble adjusting to them city ways.

Go (south)west young man.

Steve

[Hodag]

I went over to the in-laws yesterday in the cage. They live off 94 at the IL border, Man what a mess. They have posted road closings for the construction of a new bridge on I-94 near 394/94 split with closings at night and weekends from 15 minutes to 8 hours.

Mark, if you want to go through Chicago take 90E out of the city and then south on IN49 to pick up US30. You will miss the slow sections of 30. When I was commuting to Green Bay last year I would pick up 41 at the WI border, It runs back into 94 just north of the city and you miss the tolls. Time is about the same, Stopping for tolls or rolling on 41.

When are you leaving? :drink


early am (6-7ish CDT) wednesday

manic and ratsnake hooked me on the 41 route

[SCDorman]

When you pass by Bass Lake, stop at the house or give a wave.

Dan, when are you heading to the rally? I expect we will be coming through sometime Wednesday, time variant depending on whether I get off work early Tuesday and go part-way, or leave at o-dark-thirty Wednesday.

Steve

[tom42n]

:doh
I spoke too soon. I rode most of the IN10 to US30 at Etna Green route from Warsaw to Bass Lake (US30/IN19/IN10) today.

IN10 was closed in several locations between IN117 (east of Culver) and IN331.
These closures were due to bridge repair (so they were solid closures). The state detour from the west is
down to IN110 then IN14 at IN331. By riding through the state detours you can
get to the local closure and detours. However these are on local county/country
roads and unless you are interested in inspecting the corn and beans and pigs
and sheep and cows in detail I would advise against taking these local detours.

IN10 between Bass Lake and Culver has signs up of loose gravel and oil.
However, today anyway, oil was not visible and the gravel was good.

You might check the following site but it did not contain all of the bridge
construction info.


http://www.state.in.us/dot/div/communications/restrictions/detoursn.pdf

S.R. 10 Marshall (EB) and (WB) lanes closed between U.S. 31 and S.R. 17 for
bridge replacement
until July 28, 2005. Official state detour uses U.S. 31 to S.R. 110 to S.R. 17.


So IMO, if you are interested in getting up to US30 from IN10 as soon as possible I
suggest the following options-

Hop up to US30 anywhere including and east of IN49 and before (west of) US31.
Since US30 goes ESE the further east you go the less north you have to go to
get US30. The last road IN17 is a very nice road. Work you way through
Plymouth to US30. IN23 is also good (did not ride it today), watch out, go very
slow and lift off of the seat going over the tracks in Ober.

US30 is pretty much clear sailing after IN49. US30 still has 55 posted. I thought
they were raising the limits on 4 lane divided’s. Don’t know the status.

Happy riding across northern Indiana.

Tom Anspach Wnamac, IN

[tom42n]

Note for riders coming across Indiana on IN14

This morning I rode over to Rochester to pick up a copy of Harry Potter and
the Half Blood Prince (BTW I brake for muggles). I paid particular attention
to the IN14 detour across US31. Since I am used to it I don't usually notice
the signs. Here is the note:

IN14 goes directly across US31 into Rochester then continues on East. There
were so many accidents occurring as IN14 crossed US31, which is 4 lane
divided, 'they' decided to detour IN14. 'They' did not want to put in an active
stop light nor an overpass. It has been like this for a over 10 years. As you
approach the intersection picture the detour as getting you straight across
US31. The detour signs are pretty clear, but IMO, it is still easy to get
confused. The normal signs, of course, are still there. Some of the signs have
yellow detour signs others are white. The detour will take you South a little
way on US31 then off (to the right) to go NE (to the left) IN25. Picking up
IN14 East shortly. Here you will pass several gas stations, fast food joints, a
Mexican restaurant, grocery stores, and a wallyworld, before continuing on
IN14, through town, and on East.

(Rochester is about 120 miles east of Lima)

Happy riding.

Tom Anspach Winamac, IN