Sunrise on Swanson Road
Started early riding east through the NIU campus to the trail which took me to Hopkins Park and Route 23. Travel time to Sycamore was minimal with zero traffic at 5:00 AM. I noticed that gas is up to $3.45 a gallon and began to wonder what the future will bring as I rode on what is a typically a busy thoroughfare.
Detoured through one of the new subdivisions in north Sycamore to pick up Swanson Rd. Swanson Rd. becomes Middleton Rd. at the Kane County line. This a great route I highly recommend to cyclists looking for a way across Dekalb and Kane counties with minimal traffic. Continued on Middleton east of McGough Rd. Left on Chapman, right on Ellithorpe. Crossed Burlington Rd. to Pease Rd which leads to Plato Rd just east of Central High School. This high point offers a view, on a clear day, of towns southwest. Right on Plato Rd. crossed Route 47, left on Rippburger Rd to Plato Center.
Farms give way to exurbia and mcmansions supplant agriculture along Russell Rd all the way to Plank Rd. Route 20 and Plank are heavily travelled roads where cyclists must be extra vigilant. Headed north along Coombs Rd. to Virgil/Burnidge Woods which is a fitting end to a long commute. I was surprised to see the number people at the park before 7:00 AM but heartened to know it is well used. With my destination only a mile east, I ended the journey at 31 miles in little over 2 hours.
Go straight (E) on SR 38 (W Lincoln Hwy) 0.00 mi
Turn left (N) on to Normal Rd 0.38 mi
Turn right (E) on to Lucinda Ave 0.74 mi
Turn left (ESE) on to trail
Keep left (NE) on to SR 23 (Sycamore Rd) 1.88 mi
Turn right (E) on to Maplewood St 8.07 mi
Turn left (N) on to Kevin St 8.38 mi
Turn right (E) on to Swanson Rd 8.63 mi
Go straight (E) on to Middleton Rd 12.65 mi
Turn left (N) on to Peplow Rd 15.39 mi
Turn right (E) on to Ellithorpe Rd 15.89 mi
Go straight (N) on to Pease Rd 19.46 mi
Turn right (E) on to Plato Rd 19.97 mi
Turn left (N) on to Rippburger Rd 22.44 mi
Turn right (ENE) on to Russell Rd 22.92 mi
Turn right (E) on to Plank Rd 26.09 mi
Turn left (W) on to US 20 26.44 mi
Turn right (N) on to Coombs Rd 26.51 mi
Turn right (ESE) on to Big Timber Rd 28.90 mi
Go straight (ESE) on to Big Timber Rd 30.84 mi
Finish at Randall Rd 31.08 mi
