Day 04 - Valparaiso to Manteno

Photo Stops on Day 4

The route is shown in red, and goes east to west. The photo stops are the green circles along the route.

Division Road south of Valparaiso IN

This road was a designated bicycle route towards Crown Point back in 2004, IIRC. It's nice here, but I wanted to get off and avoid a ride to Crown Point this time. (Location a on the map.)

Heading south on Sagar Road

I wasn't positive this route would work, but it turned out to be a marked bicycle route, even.

Fork in Sager Road

I should have turned left here to continue on the bicycle route. Sager road gradually turns east here, not the way I wanted to go. I came back to this intersection and continued south. (Location c on the map.)

Baums Bridge Road

Taking Baums Bridge Road to bypass Kouts. (Location d on the map.)

Heading West on County Road 900 S.

This road was perhaps the most relaxing part of the day's ride. I was now heading west, not too far north of the Kankakee River. (Location e on the map)

Hebron IN and Soybeans

Soybeans along CR 900 S, which runs along the north side of the Kankakee River, but just south of Hebron IN. CR 900 S was a pleasant, quiet road as long as it lasted (i.e. until I-65). (Location f on the map)

Indian Trail Grange

I crossed I-65 at Dinwiddie, on Hwy 2. It was a busy place (but had a McD where I got lunch) and then I continued on Hwy 2. It was too busy for comfortable riding. But there was a grange hall, so I stopped for a photo and checked my maps to look for an alternative to Hwy 2. (Location g on the map)

Indian Trail Grange

The grange hall was originally down the road on Belshaw the Road, which I was going to take even if it added a few miles to my route. That road looks like it it could have been the Indian trail that gave the grange its name. (Location g on the map)

Buckley Homestead County Park

It hadn't been long since lunch, but I couldn't pass up this quiet, shady park on Belshaw Road for a little break. (Location h on the map)

Buckley Homestead County Park

There was an old school and farm house further back from the road, but unfortunately this was not a good time for a long break. (Location h on the map)

Belshaw and Cline

For a nice, quiet road I probably should have turned north here on Cline Ave, but didn't. I went a couple miles further on Belshaw Road and turned north on US-41 instead. (Location i on the map)

West Creek Township Trustee

This sign was on the road west to the Illinois-Indiana border. I wanted the photo to illustrate the vestigial nature of Indiana's township government, but also was curious about the "No Ill-Iana" and "No Freight Trains" signs. This was just the first of many such signs that I encountered over the next few days. (Location j on the map)

185th Avenue at the Illinois-Indiana state line

As I got close to the Illinois border, the paved road became coarse, loose gravel for about 1.5 miles. That was slow going. No wonder Google didn't want to route me this way. But if I ever come this way again, maybe it will have been paved. It looks like a work in progress. (Location k on the map.)

State Line Road

Most of the east-west county roads don't go straight through at the state line. Here I took the first of a series of jogs to the south on the way to Grant Park. (Location k on the map.)

St. Paul Lutheran Church

St Paul Lutheran Church (WELS) on N 16000 E Road. That looks like a parsonage behind it. (Location l on the map.)

Yet another jog to the south

on the way to Grant Park. (Location m on the map)

Grant Park Village Hall

I came to Grant Park expecting to find a township hall here. I didn't find one, but some men in a parking lot directed me to the village hall. (Location n on the map)

Grant Park

Grant Park village hall straight ahead, with elevators behind and right. (Location n on the map)

Manteno Township sign

Unfortunately, I had my camera at a super-high ISO here. (Location n on the map.)

Manteno Township Hall

Manteno Township Town Hall, Kankakee County, IL