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Continued from previous page where we started to talk
about the "Soccer Field Spur"
As we ride by the "Spur" that runs about 1/2 mile to the soccer field we pass by the trail sign at left. There is a nice farm on the other side of the trail that you can see in this picture. |
| Eagle
City Soccer Complex Staging Area. This picture is of the
intersection of the Simon Kenton Trail with the "Eagle City Soccer
Complex Spur". Here at right is a picture looking down the Spur
(West) towards the
soccer fields that are just left of the large tree. If you click on the
picture you may be able to see them. Just behind me is the sign you
see in the above picture of "Urbana 8 miles."
There there is parking, water, restrooms and picnic areas. With permission you can leave your car overnight here to ride our trails. To get permission call National Trails Parks and Recreation at 937-328-7275. For more information on the Eagle City Soccer Complex Click Here. |
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At left we can see in the distance the large roadway bridge that carries State Route 334 over the trail. When we get to the bridge we will be about 1.1 miles from our starting point. |
| At right you can see the State Route 334 Bridge from the North side. We have walked under it and are on our way North. |
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At left is the next crossing for the trail at Tremont City Road. There is what looks like a road next to it but it is a private road that parallels the trail for about 1/2 mile until it turns into the Clark State Community College "Truck Driver Training Institute". See photo below. |
| At right is the sign at the beginning of what looks like a road. We drove down it and found out at the end that it turned into a huge parking lot with lots of over-the-road trucks and places for instructors to watch students move the big rigs. So we turned around and took this picture. |
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Early on in our review of the trail we saw this man running with his dog near the "Soccer Field Spur". He asked us if we had seen a woman and children on bicycles. We told him that they were ahead on the trail. The next time we saw the family they were together and traveling South on the Trail near the Tremont City Road crossing. |
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When we got on the trail near Villa Road in Clark County the active railroad line was on the East side of the Trail. When we got to the Tremont City Road crossing of the trail we found that the trail crosses the railroad tracks here. You'll want to be careful when you cross the tracks, which are a spur to the International Truck Plant to the North. |
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Entering Champaign County |
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We used this picture on the previous page to talk about the Park and Rides along the trail. At left is the first parking area at County Line Road. This is the dividing line between Clark County to the South (left of picture) and Champaign County to the North (right of picture). This picture is taken looking Southwest. |
| Above you see the parking area and Carter Lumber in the background. At right we are looking North and taking a picture of the trail looking North with the new parking lot on the right. |
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As we were standing in the parking area at County Line Road these three recumbent cyclists went by us going North. In the distance you can see the double span of the new US Route 68 bridge going over the bicycle trail. |
| Here we are at the US Route 68 bridge over the trail about 1/2 mile north of the trail crossing at County Line Road. If you'll remember we said if you really want to ride fast then this is the trail for you. This area is one of the exceptions to what we said. As you can see the trail makes an "S" turn under the US-68 bridge. The reason for this is a farmer's access road at the left of the picture. That lets him go under US-68 and get to one of his soybean fields to the South of the bridge. |
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The picture at left was taken another half mile or so north from the US 68 bridge. This photo was taken where the trail crosses West Dallas Road ( CR-184) and it was taken looking South towards the US 68 bridge. If you click on this thumbnail image you can see the bridge in the far background. |
| At right we have reached Woodburn Road and the Cedar Bog. The bog is at our left down the road and there is a Park and Ride on Woodburn Road. |
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At left we have now crossed West Hickory Grove Road about .6 mile or so North of Woodbine Road. At this crossing the railroad tracks that we have been following cross the road with a overpass. This picture was taken looking East up Woodbine towards US Route 68. The other landmark is behind me. It is a large electrical sub-station that is on the West side of the trail. |
| At right we have reached the stage area at State Route 55 just south of Urbana. At present this parking area is gravel but I expect it will be paved someday . As you can see from this picture and the next one, this 1.3 mile section of trail is nicely shaded. |
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At left is another picture of the trail in the vicinity of State Route 55. There are also several benches under the trees in the shade. This section of the trail was built first and looks a bit older or "more established" than the rest of the 14.6 miles of trail from Buck Creek Trail to Urbana, Ohio. |
