In Progress - Various locations in Illinois

[galacticfuzz]

So this trip was never really planned out until my trip down to Galva, Illinois for a job interview (4June). On the way down I decided to do some exploring on my way back. Not really that much off road stuff, mainly gravel roads and the one two track trail that was with a dead end sign. Passed by a lot of other two track roads but all were by and leading into crop fields, so wanted to try and avoid the trespassing. Here are a few of the shots I did take. I plan to go back that way and do some more driving and exploring....google earth, here I come....again....


As you go further along the trail became more grass and muddy. Being alone and out of cell service, I decided not to risk it.

The pic above shows the path behind the pic of the truck


Some of the other roads



and some of the scenery

[Trail X]

Nice Scenery!

[galacticfuzz]

Nice Scenery!

It was very nice out there, I've got a very good chance of getting the teaching job out there (50-50 but the other guy doesn't have any teaching experience) which will lead to many more drive through the country and see what I can find. Heh, even the lady wants to do that so win-win. Was wanting to take more pics, so guess I've got a designated camera operator now. It would also put me about 45min or so from the border of Iowa. 1 hour from Davenport.

[galacticfuzz]

Some new pics from a little scouting done in Lockport, IL. Sadly with the rain that we got water was just laying in the tracks. The ground was spongy when taking pics too. Will definitely go back to them when it is dry ground, didn't want to tear it up and leave more ruts then there already were on the entry point for the one location, the other was all mud and standing water after the gravel ran out. Pics don't show the amount of water sadly.

Location 1






Location 2

[Hatchet669]

i know not of this place in lock port....

[galacticfuzz]

i know not of this place in lock port....

location 1 was at 151st and gougar, location 2 off of 151 by parker on gravel service rd. google earth our maps will show it

[Hatchet669]

i know not of this place in lock port....

location 1 was at 151st and gougar, location 2 off of 151 by parker on gravel service rd. google earth our maps will show it

thanks... thats bout a 30 mins drive for me... would be worth it for a few people who want to go off trails but nothing hard core...

[galacticfuzz]

thanks... thats bout a 30 mins drive for me... would be worth it for a few people who want to go off trails but nothing hard core...

Roughly 45 min for me. Out that way sometimes since that's where my girlfriend lives/works. From what I saw, no signs stating no tresspassing or anything of the likes. I'm planning to use areas like this to get some experience under my belt and not be putting myself into a potentially dangerous situation from being in over my head.

[galacticfuzz]

Been in Peoria now for about a week due to moving for my teaching job, and managed to find a nice gravel access road (N. Murphy Rd). The road is only open from April 1 till mid October if I recall from the sign.

I finally got my girlfriend to go with me on this one, so she operated the camera (which means I got a lot of pics). Funny part was that she was open to going with after I had to go down over a ledge at the local McDonalds. She said it was exciting, even if it scraped the mounts on my nerf bars. Anyhow, on with the pics.

[galacticfuzz]

some more pics from same road

[galacticfuzz]

N. Murphy Road, continued...

[galacticfuzz]

Last 2 from N. Murphy Road

[galacticfuzz]

Here are some pics of Greengold Road outside of Peoria, IL. This is actually connected with Murphy Road, which I posted yesterday. Greengold is a lot of hills, most with heavy rutting from rain wash out. Mostly larger, broken up rock.

[galacticfuzz]

tried to get them in as close of order as I could. The blackish tint to the gravel is just a finer, more dirt like gravel.

[NC_IslandRunner]

even if it scraped the mounts on my nerf bars.

Lose the nerf bars they will only get in the way, when I joined here the first comment I had was to lose the running boards. I didn't take them off till I got hung on them at the Overland Rally. Get rock sliders, I know I need to.

[galacticfuzz]

Thanks for the advice. Eventually down the road I probably will lose them in favor of sliders. At this point though, I'm working towards figuring out where/when to get and do the lift, since I'm needing to get new tires before winter I am going to try to get the other stuff done as well.

[bartonmd]

I don't mean this to sound like it's going to sound, but given the thread about posting on run threads, good or bad, I'm going to ask it... Got any pics of anything I haven't taken my Buick LeSabre through?

Having said that, there may be a couple of us going to Badlands in Attica, IN the Saturday of Labor Day Weekend...

Mike

[galacticfuzz]

Mike, If in anyway I could take that in a non bad way, I would try to. I guess the lesson I'm learning here is that unless I'm either lifted or going on a larger scale and challenging trip, not to post anything regarding finding something like I have been finding. Being that this is my first 4wd and am working on gaining the experience, I guess I am a little excited and was just trying to show that I've actually been doing something.

[bartonmd]

Mike, If in anyway I could take that in a non bad way, I would try to. I guess the lesson I'm learning here is that unless I'm either lifted or going on a larger scale and challenging trip, not to post anything regarding finding something like I have been finding. Being that this is my first 4wd and am working on gaining the experience, I guess I am a little excited and was just trying to show that I've actually been doing something.

As I said, I'm not trying to bash you or anything... Honestly, I'm not... I grew up in the country, and did take my cars down roads like that (and worse) since I was 16, and even before, on my grandparents' property (I know Kyle did as well, with his F-body)... I'm not even saying not to post anything. It's great that you're getting out and finding stuff, but the point of my comment and invitation was to motivate you to come to Attica with us next weekend, so you can get some real off-road pictures... Being that it's your first 4WD, you could also ride with one of us and learn how to wheel, with it being your first 4WD... There are lots of sand dunes and stuff at Attica that you can take a stock TB down and have a good time, while not being too crazy with it...

Mike

[galacticfuzz]

I understand and appreciate the offer Mike, I do. Sorry for how I came back with my response. I will consider the trip to Attica for sure though. Oh, by the way, the comment did fire me up to go and push myself for something more.