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[NWI_Irish96]

I live in far NW Indiana but my office is in far southern Indiana, very near Louisville. I was working 100% from home even before COVID, but for reasons I won't get into, I'm now required to be in my office at least two days out of every two week pay period.

Partly out of a desire to clinch new highways/counties, and partly due to just hating I-65, I've taken to turning what's normally a 4.5 hour trip from home to office into 8-9 hour clinching trips.

I've already done several of these in the past, but now that they're going to be regular, I thought I'd log them here.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: August 14, 2022

Route: I-80/94 east, I-65 south, I-70 east, I-75 south, I-675 north, I-70 east, I-71 south, I-471 south, I-275 counterclockwise, I-74 east, I-75 south, I-71 south

New counties visited: Greene (OH), Pickaway (OH), Fayette (OH), Clinton (OH), Clermont (OH) [current total = 1012]

Routes clinched: I-675 (OH), I-71, I-471, I-275 (OH/KY/IN)

Other new route segments traveled: none

Summary: I generally prefer trips that aren't entirely interstate driving, but I had clinched the Louisville-Cincinnati portion of I-71 a long time ago and our family's 2021 summer trip to New England got me the Columbus-Cleveland portion, so all I was missing was the Cincinnati-Columbus segment. I decided to get this yesterday to make I-71 my 13th 2di clinched (with I-11 and I-74 being temporary). I also went down to pick up I-675 while I was headed to Columbus, and at Cincinnati I got the remaining segments of I-471 and I-275 I was missing.

[webny99]

Cool! That sounds like a great opportunity to get some new mileage.

I have a similar thread here although my clinching trip(s) have been limited compared to yours.


(note: I copied this from the previous thread and deleted my reply there.)

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: September 5, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-55 south, I-72 west (BL I-72 west), IL 100 south (IL 108), IL 16 east, US 67 south, IL 255/I-255 south, I-64 east

New counties visited (all in Illinois): Morgan, Scott, Pike, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey

Routes clinched: BL I-72, IL 255

Other new route segments traveled: I-72(US 36) between I-55 and BL I-72, I-72(US 36) between BL I-72 and IL 100, IL 100 between I-72 and IL 16, IL 108 between IL 100 and ferry dock, IL 16 between IL 100 and US 67, US 67 between IL 16 and IL 255, I-255 between I-270 and I-64

Summary: My first trip to the west central region of Illinois netted me six new counties, and also bagged my lowest route number not yet traveled in 108. Additionally, I got the last interstate business loop in Illinois I was missing at Jacksonville.

This trip put me over 50% of highway miles clinched in Illinois. Only 5 others in TravelMapping have reached that mark.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: September 11, 2022

Route: I-80/94 east, US 20 east, IN 2 east, US 20 east, IN 5 south, county roads, US 6 east, IN 3 south, county roads, I-469 west, I-69 south, I-465 south, city streets, I-465 south, I-74 east, county roads, IN 9 south, IN 252 east, county roads, US 31 south, I-65 south

New counties visited: none

Routes clinched: none

Other new route segments traveled: just a bunch of county roads

Summary: I had a longer trip planned for Sunday that would have taken me to far southern Illinois, but I had a rough Saturday and wasn't up for the earlier start so I opted for a shorter route I had in my catalog. Inspired by the "Largest city/town in your state you haven't visited," this trip took me to the five largest towns in Indiana I'd yet to visit. I clinched the entire state highway system over a year ago, but Indiana has over 100 municipalities that aren't on state highways. Topeka, Grabill, Warren Park, St. Paul and Prince's Lakes were the last five with a population I'd yet to visit. Largest I'm missing is now Summitville in Madison County, with a 2020 population of 983.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: September 25, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-57 south, I-24 east, IL 146 east, IL 147 east, IL 145 north, IL 34 south, IL 34 north, IL 146 east, IL 1 south, IL 1 north, US 45 south, IL 141 east, county roads, IL 1 north, I-64 east

New counties visited (all in Illinois): Williamson, Johnson, Pope, Saline, Hardin

Routes clinched: IL 147, IL 1, IL 141

Other new route segments traveled: I-57 between I-24 and IL 14, I-24 between IL 146 and I-57, IL 146 between I-57 and IL 147, IL 145 from IL 147 to IL 34, IL 34 from southern end to IL 145, IL 146 from IL 34 to IL 1, US 45 from IL 141 to IL 1

Summary: Ever since I moved to Northwest Indiana 5 years ago, I've had a bit of fascination with IL 1. It's the second closest Illinois state route from where I live (IL 83 is closer), it's the longest Illinois state route (exluding the entirely multiplexed IL 110), and it's (obviously) the lowest-numbered. Over various trips I'd extended my clinch as far south as US 45 at Norris City, and it was time to finish the job. On the way I picked up five new counties, a few more miles of I-57, my first mileage on I-24 in Illinois, and my lowest-numbered untraveled route in 147.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: October 10, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-57 south, US 45 south, IL 13 east, IL 142 south, IL 142 north, IL 142 south, IL 13 east, KY 56 east, US 60 east, US 41 south, Audubon Parkway east, US 60 east, BUS US 60 (Cloverport), US 60 East, KY 841 east, I-65 north

New counties visited (all in Kentucky): Union, Hancock, Breckenridge

Routes clinched: Audubon Pkwy, BUS US 60 (Cloverport)

Other new route segments traveled: US 45 from IL 13/34 to I-57 at Mattoon, IL 13 from US 45 to KY line, IL 142 from southern end to US 45, KY 56 from IL line to US 60, US 60 from KY 56 to US 41, US 60 from Audubon Pkwy to I-165, US 60 from US 231 to US 31W.

Summary: This trip brought me to the last three counties that border Indiana that I was missing (none of which have bridges connecting to Indiana). On the way down I got a substantial chunk of US 45 and finished off the yet unclinched highway segments in White and Gallatin counties, so those counties are now 100% complete. This was also the first time I've crossed the IL/KY border. The Audubon Parkway is the first Kentucky parkway I've fully clinched.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: October 30, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-55 south, I-255 south/west/east, IL 3 south, IL 154 east, IL 4 south, country roads, US 51 north, IL 14 east, IL 37 north, I-64 east

New counties visited (all in Illinois): Monroe, Randolph, Perry, Jackson

Routes clinched: I-255, IL 14

Other new route segments traveled: IL 3 from I-255 to IL 154, IL 154 from IL 3 to IL 4, IL 4 from IL 154 to IL 13, US 51 from CR 18 to IL 14, IL 37 from IL 14 to I-64

Summary: Four more new counties in far southern Illinois. Also my first substantial mileage on IL routes 3 or 4. It was a really foggy/rainy day, so I didn't really get to see as much as I'd have liked.

[paulthemapguy]

You must be very close to that Illinois county clinch! That's exciting... My completion of my Indiana shield gallery came from a similar mode of travelling as you are doing here...I kept going back and forth between a destination less than a day's drive away (in my case, it was Columbus, Ohio). I am one of those people with more than 50% of Illinois clinched...but forget 50% of any state besides my own! That's cool that you've clinched more than half of a state besides you own.

[NWI_Irish96]

You must be very close to that Illinois county clinch! That's exciting... My completion of my Indiana shield gallery came from a similar mode of travelling as you are doing here...I kept going back and forth between a destination less than a day's drive away (in my case, it was Columbus, Ohio). I am one of those people with more than 50% of Illinois clinched...but forget 50% of any state besides my own! That's cool that you've clinched more than half of a state besides you own.

I have two different kinds of trips I make. One is a 9 or so  hour day trip where I leave from and return home the same day. The other is when I have to go to my office in the Louisville area where I turn what would be a 4 hour trip straight down I-65 into a 9-10 hour trip clinching highways and counties in IL/KY/OH, but mainly Illinois.

What I have left in Illinois is the southernmost three counties that I-57 goes through, the southernmost county that I-24 goes through, and then four counties in the far west in between Peoria and Hannibal that are hard to get in one day either way.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: November 13, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-57 south/north, BL I-57 north, US 60/62 east, US 51 north/south, US 60 east, I-24 east, I-69 north, Western KY Pkwy east, I-65 north

New counties visited in Illinois: Union, Pulaski, Alexander
New counties visited in Missouri: Mississippi, Scott
New counties visited in Kentucky: Ballard, McCracken, Marshall, Livingston, Lyon, Caldwell, Muhlenberg

Routes clinched: I-57, BL I-57 Charleston, Western Kentucky Parkway

Other new route segments traveled: US 62 from I-57 to US 51/60, US 60 from I-57 to I-24, US 51 from I-57 to US 60/62, I-69 from I-24 to I-169

Summary: Been pushing my mileage on I-57 farther and farther south for a while now and finally finished it off. I-57 is the 3rd longest interstate I've clinched, behind I-65 and I-74, slotting in ahead of I-8. Also got the Mississippi and Ohio River bridges at Cairo (what a depressing place!), plus some more mileage on I-24 and I-69. On the county side, I'm now only 5 away from finishing off Illinois, and hit 50% for Kentucky.

[JoePCool14]

I'm slightly jealous that you have the opportunity to clinch so much. My job is less than an hour away. Needless to say, there's nothing to clinch on that route! Then again, I'm sure the wallet isn't too happy given fuel prices.

[kphoger]

FYI, in case you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path route between I-57 and I-24, the county roads shown here make for some interesting driving.

[NWI_Irish96]

I'm slightly jealous that you have the opportunity to clinch so much. My job is less than an hour away. Needless to say, there's nothing to clinch on that route! Then again, I'm sure the wallet isn't too happy given fuel prices.

My preference would be to only have to go down to my office 3-4 times per quarter as opposed to every two weeks, and it may yet shift back that way, but while I have to do it I'm going to make the most of it. Yes, it costs me about an extra $50-60 in gas as opposed to the most direct route, but I'm getting a lot of clinching done that I might not otherwise get to.

FYI, in case you're looking for an off-the-beaten-path route between I-57 and I-24, the county roads shown here make for some interesting driving.

I will make note of that, but the next time I'm down that way, clinching I-24 is the priority and I won't have enough time for that much of a side trip.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: December 4, 2023

Route: I-80 west, I-57 south, I-24 east, BL I-24 east, I-24 west, US 45 north, BUS US 45 north, US 45 north, I-24 east, US 62 east, KY 295 north/south, US 62 west, I-24 east, I-169 north, Western KY Pkwy east, I-65 north

New county visited in Illinois: Massac
New counties visited in Kentucky: Crittenden, Trigg

Routes clinched: I-24, BL I-24 (Paducah), BUS US 45 (Paducah), BUS US 60 (Paducah), KY 273

Other new route segments traveled: US 45 from I-24 to BUS US 45 and from BUS US 45 to I-24, US 62 from I-24 to KY 295, KY 295 from US 62 to KY 70

Summary: Last county in southern Illinois visited. I-24 clinched along with the business routes in Paducah. Also made a side trip to get Crittenden County.

[NWI_Irish96]

Date: December 19, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-55 south, I-72 west/east, I-172 north, US 24 east, US 67 north, county roads, US 136 east, US 24 east, BUS US 24 east, US 24 east, I-55 north, I-80 east

New counties visited in Illinois: Adams, Brown, Schuyler, McDonough
New county visited in Missouri: Marion

Routes clinched: I-72, I-172, BUS US 24 (Washington)

Summary: Didn't have to make a 2nd trip to Louisville this month so I did day trip to hit a couple landmarks. Clinched I-72 and I-172 and in the process finished all interstate mileage in Illinois, my 3rd state after Indiana and Colorado. Also got the last four counties in ‎Illinois I was missing, making that my 2nd state 100% complete after Indiana.

[JoePCool14]

Congrats on clinching all IL Interstates! Out of all of them, what was your favorite stretch?

[NWI_Irish96]

Congrats on clinching all IL Interstates! Out of all of them, what was your favorite stretch?

I would have to say either I-24 or the far southern segment of I-57.

[NWI_Irish96]

So this is an unfortunate report. Early on the morning of the 29th, I set out on one final clinching trip for the year, planning on picking off several Iowa counties as well as IL 5 in Rock Island and a nice chunk of US 34. I thought all the ice had melted on my driveway but I found the one patch that didn't. I broke my fall with my left arm, which knocked my humerus completely out of its socket and fractured it in two spots. It required surgery and a splint for 6 weeks and even then I might still need a shoulder replacement. Worst part is that I'm left handed, but in any case no driving for me for quite a while. Also having to type one handed so probably significantly less posting for a while too.

[kphoger]

Whoa, crap!  Bad news indeed!

I pray recovery goes well for you.  As well as possible.

[webny99]

That is a bummer. Sorry to hear that and hope it heals up soon!

[hbelkins]

Sorry to hear about the injury. Hope the recovery goes well

Date: November 13, 2022

Route: I-80 west, I-57 south/north, BL I-57 north, US 60/62 east, US 51 north/south, US 60 east, I-24 east, I-69 north, Western KY Pkwy east, I-65 north

New counties visited in Illinois: Union, Pulaski, Alexander
New counties visited in Missouri: Mississippi, Scott
New counties visited in Kentucky: Ballard, McCracken, Marshall, Livingston, Lyon, Caldwell, Muhlenberg

Routes clinched: I-57, BL I-57 Charleston, Western Kentucky Parkway

Other new route segments traveled: US 62 from I-57 to US 51/60, US 60 from I-57 to I-24, US 51 from I-57 to US 60/62, I-69 from I-24 to I-169

Summary: Been pushing my mileage on I-57 farther and farther south for a while now and finally finished it off. I-57 is the 3rd longest interstate I've clinched, behind I-65 and I-74, slotting in ahead of I-8. Also got the Mississippi and Ohio River bridges at Cairo (what a depressing place!), plus some more mileage on I-24 and I-69. On the county side, I'm now only 5 away from finishing off Illinois, and hit 50% for Kentucky.

I've found that the best route from Wickliffe to Paducah -- and indeed, it's the one highlighted on old AAA Triptik sheets -- is KY 286. From the intersection of US 51/60/62, make a right to stay on 51/62, then left on KY 121, then left on KY 286. You come out on US 62 west of I-24. It's a shorter and more direct route than US 60.

KY 121 is an intriguing diagonal route across the Purchase area of Kentucky. I've driven large chunks of it, but I'd like to drive the whole thing sometime.

[kphoger]

I've found that the best route from Wickliffe to Paducah -- and indeed, it's the one highlighted on old AAA Triptik sheets -- is KY 286. From the intersection of US 51/60/62, make a right to stay on 51/62, then left on KY 121, then left on KY 286. You come out on US 62 west of I-24.

Indeed, that's the only route I've ever actually used between the two.

[NWI_Irish96]

I've found that the best route from Wickliffe to Paducah -- and indeed, it's the one highlighted on old AAA Triptik sheets -- is KY 286. From the intersection of US 51/60/62, make a right to stay on 51/62, then left on KY 121, then left on KY 286. You come out on US 62 west of I-24.

Indeed, that's the only route I've ever actually used between the two.

I wasn't going for the fastest route. I was trying to clinch a chunk of US 60.

[paulthemapguy]

That's awful! I hope the recovery goes smoothly and quickly! Hoping you can get back to these clinchtrips you enjoy really soon.