Chicago-Iowa City-Des Moines
As I left Lisle-Naperville, I was again on previously travelled territory. I used to live
in the Quad Cities, and I-88 is the main thoroughfare between there and Chicago. A former job
required travelling along this route out as far as Rochelle, about midway to Chicago.
Up until my stop in Chicago, the weather had not been much of an issue. The morning mist
had given way to a bright, sunny day for the ride through Illinois. The sky had become gray
at Joliet, and the presence of Lake Michigan had kept things cool enough that on this early July
day, I kept my denim jacket on even though it was approaching noon. It had started to rain
as I got on I-290 in Chicago, but amounted to nothing more than a light sprinkle that only lasted
a few minutes. The low to mid 90's had been predicted for most of the trip, with the Chicago
area the exception, expected to reach only the mid 80's. I figured that as I left Chicago and
the Lake, that the sky would clear and things would heat up, so I took off the jacket, looking forward to
enjoying the warmth of the sun. I bring the weather issue up only because the most notable
thing about the ride down I-88 was the chill I felt as the weather worsened. It was the showers, and
not the sun that returned. I was tempted to stop and put the jacket back on, but pressed on
to my next scheduled stop in Rock Falls.
Like a House Afire
I never seemed to appreciate how easy it was, somehow, to blow off getting receipts for stuff,
given their enormous documentation value on a certified ride. I guess it's a symptom of being
tired, but I found myself having to get a receipt re-printed after the fact, repeatedly. The
gas station in Rock Falls is just one example, but a damn good one. I originally, forgot to
get a receipt at all, but the clerk was kind enough to re-print one for me. Later, while munching
a quick Snicker's, I realized that though the receipt was dated, time-stamped, and even numbered --
it didn't have the NAME and ADDRESS of the place on it! And even then, I momentarily blew it off
and started back on the road. After about two blocks, it finally dawned on me that I NEEDED that
NAME and ADDRESS, so I rode back to the station. Now, the clerk was not nearly as friendly as she
had been just moments before. She grudgingly printed the NAME and ADDRESS of the place on the
receipt. I didn't have the heart (let's leave other parts of the anatomy out of this, OK?) to
ask her to sign, or even initial it. But I have no fear of her not remembering the day I was there,
if not me specifically, should IronButt choose to contact her. While I was eating my Snicker's,
a house a couple of doors down from the gas station caught fire and burned out of control!
All the while, patrons kept on pumping gas and the clerk kept on ringing in the dough, as though
nothing out of the ordinary were going on. That's when I momentarily considered that it might
be OK to leave without knowing just where I had just filled the tank. But, I came to my senses(!?)
and went back to a gas station, near a burning house to get documentation for a motorcycle ride!!
Go figure.
DATE TIME LOCATION ODOMETER
5 7/6/02 2:51 PM 1308 1ST AVE, ROCK FALLS, IL 36494
I left the burning house and Rock Falls behind me as I headed for the Quad Cities. There was
nothing remarkable in this 50-odd miles, just the usual idle road construction sites and more rain.
The rain threatened to become more serious as I rounded the corner onto I-80 near East Moline and crossed the Mississippi
for the second time in nine hours. A moderate shower continued until I cleared Davenport and headed toward
Iowa City.
A fortunate side-benefit of riding my route in the direction I had taken was that my scheduled
stops, necessarily became closer together. As I was nearing three-quarters mark of the trip,
this was a blessing. At my next stop in just past Iowa City, in Coralville, I filled the tank
as usual. I visited the restroom, then grabbed another Snicker's. When the sweet-young-thing of
clerk smiled and asked, "Back again?" I replied honestly, "Yeah, anything to keep me off that damn bike
for a few more minutes."
DATE TIME LOCATION ODOMETER
6 7/6/02 4:55 PM 2798 COMMERCE DR, CORALVILLE, IA 36605
In the end, I got back on the "damn bike" and headed for Des Moines.
Dark skies to the west were evident as I rode out of Coralville. As the reoccurring showers
began again, I pulled into a rest stop and checked out the web-based radar on display in the lobby.
The rain covered the remainder of my route in Iowa. It was still just a light sprinkle,
but it was annoying.
I used to live in the Quad Cities and still have a brother in the area, so I'm real familiar with the I-80 to I-35
route. Actually, I take I-235 through the heart of Des Moines (if it has one!), instead of taking
I-80 all the way around to the North. I don't think there's much of a saving of distance, but I
like riding past the Capitol Building. I'm not sure why.
By this time I'm pretty much on auto-pilot. I'm just going through the motions.
The latest shower ended as I approached Des Moines. A quick fill-up and yet another Snicker's,
and I'm back on the road.
DATE TIME LOCATION ODOMETER
7 7/6/02 6:45 PM 2110 GUTHRIE AVE, DES MOINES, IA 36709
The Final Turn
