The Great River Road: Illinios Route 3

This is the first leg of my ride to Wisconsin on the Great River Road.   I've been on this road before all the way to Chester and then to Ste. Genevieve.  

My first stop this day was at the Fort Jefferson Cross overlooking the Mississippi River, an impressive site.  In the distance, you can see the adjoining Mississippi and Ohio River bridges on the very bottom tip of Illionios.  This is the start of Illionios Route 3 on the Great River Road. 

The road from here is on a bluff, with some nice turns and hills.  As I cross the Ohio River, I see where the Ohio joins the Mississippi.  After I cross the river, I make a right on Route 3, and I am on my way. 

My ride up to Chester on route 3 is in between the Mississippi River and the Devils Back Bone.  A mountainous ridge that was created by the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12.  The ride alternates between bluffs and a floodplain, with plenty of magnificent scenery.  It is what we ride for. 


I cross into Missouri at Chester Illinois the home of the creator of Popeye the Sailorman. Once in Missouri, its a short 30-minute ride to Ste Genevieve  This is my first overnight stop on the Great River Road. 

I cannot express my love for this town enough.  This is my second time here, Ste. Genevieve is a place like no other.   You feel like your in France when you are in this town. In New Orleans, the French architecture is drowned out by everything that’s been built in the last 300 years, not here. Some of the oldest structures in the western US, dating back to the 1600’s.  To include the oldest brick building west of the Mississippi.

This is a nice start to a 3-day Motorcycle Ride on the Great River Road.  It's going to be fun to see the rest of it.