The 90 Illini #75: Kellen Francis

I have a confession to make: I have an Illinois blindspot. I know a lot about this state, but there's this area – let's call it... west central Illinois? northwest central northern Illinois? – where I just don't know anything. In fact, I don't think I've ever been there.

If there were dots in Illinois to places I've been and lines for places I've driven, I think I'd have nearly the entire state covered. Everywhere else, I don't think you'd be able to go a dozen miles without hitting a dot or a line. But in this area, I don't think I'd have a single dot or line:

And yes, that means I've never driven that stretch of I-80. My entire life I've either lived in the St. Louis area or in Champaign. I've driven St. Louis to the Quad Cities and I've driven St. Louis to Chicago 150 times. I've driven Champaign to Iowa City on 74 many times over the last four years. But the one time I drove to Chicago from Nebraska, I took 88 from the Quad Cities to downtown Chicago. I don't think I've ever been on that stretch of I-80.