I had hoped for a ride along the Illinois & Michigan Canal Trail. Unfortunately, I didn't get far before the trail was blocked off and closed. (This photo is looking back at the place where I had crossed to the south side of the canal.)
There didn't seem to be a way to ride around the bad section of the I&M canal trail, but at least there was a bridge to cross over and then continue my ride on the public roads on the north side.
A few of these old road graders have been preserved in township hall yards. Back in the day they were an improvement over having farmers bring their own tools to work on the roads; but they also marked a change in the relationship of citizens to township government. Now they paid taxes for road work insted of getting together on work days.
