Day 8; 6/3/23: Chester to Goreville IL

Today's ride was a breeze compared to the previous 3 days.  There was a lot of flat riding, and the hills were smaller.

Rode through some Illinois wheat country (pic below).

The pic below was taken in Murphrysboro IL.  Don't recall ever seeing one of these before, but they may be on to something.  The building was air conditioned.  Hmmm, possible stealth camp?

I saw another couple on a tandem bicycle going west near Carbondale, but I was halfway up a hill as they came flying down.  So as not to commit a cycling cardinal sin, I did not try to stop and talk to them.  We just waved and kept going our different ways.

Pic below is Spencer.  He is riding from VA to OR,  but is going to get off Bike Route 76 through Missouri and get on the Katy Trail to get to Kansas City to visit family.  He is from KC but now lives in San Antonio.  He knows where Athens AL is because he went to college in Huntsville and graduated from UAH.

I met a couple of women who were doing a 4 day bikepacking trip on gravel roads.  Pic below of them gaining on me...

...and yep, there they go :)

I met Brayden (pic below) near Goreville.  He is hiking from the Mississippi River to the Ohio River.  This is his 4th day of hiking about 25 miles a day.  He has hiked 109 miles so far.

Barbara, who lives near Goreville, allows touring cyclists to camp or stay inside her residence for a nominal fee.  This is the first time I have camped at her place. Pics below of the scenery from her place.

Total miles today:  83.3