Pic below of Gunnar being ferried across the Ohio River into Illinois.
Southern Illinois is quite hilly. Fortunately, it was primarily overcast which kept the temp down, but it was very humid. For about the last couple of hours of riding, I rode in a steady rain and one brief downpour around Simpson, IL. I made it to Goreville, IL, my stop for the night, and went to the grocery store to stock up on some vittles. They were out of one of my main staples, bananas, so I bought a couple of apples and an orange to hold me over till Chester.
While inside the store, a thunderstorm moved through with torrential rain. The store's roof had a serious leak near the coolers and they had 4-5 buckets on the floor catching the drips. After buying my vittles, I sat out on the front porch of the store eating potato chips, people watching, and waiting out the rain.
The rain stopped and I went to Ferne Clyffe State Park to get a campsite. The campground host that helped me select a site asked about my travels. I told her I was riding from Alabama to Kansas, where my daughter lives. The host then asked me if I stopped by the campground last year and I responded yes. She then recalled that trip had something to do with a baby. I told her I had ridden out there last year for my grandson's birth, and this year is to celebrate his 1st birthday. I wish my memory was as good as hers.
The rain stayed away until about 9:30 p.m. when another thunderstorm moved through. Another round of torrential rain for about 45 minutes then all remained calm the rest of the night. I got a good night's sleep all cuddled up in my nice dry on the inside tent.
Total miles today: 76.2
Total ascent: 4599 feet
Day 5: I stopped by the local restaurant in Goreville, the Goreville Grill for breakfast. There were about 7 other patrons inside the restaurant taking up a couple of tables. They were all men, and I could tell that they have been coming to the restaurant every morning for quite a while. I'm glad I didn't get there before them and accidentally sit at one of "their tables."
Below is a pic of the Devil's Kitchen Lake where I stopped for a short break this morning.
The clouds actually broke this afternoon and I got to ride in some sunshine. Maybe I got a start on a "touring cyclist tan."
I made it to the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge in Chester, IL, the home of Popeye. I'll be staying at their cyclist hostel tonight where I have stayed on previous trips.
Total miles today: 77.6
Total ascent: 3417 feet
Day 6: Looked at the weather for today and it called for 18 mph SSW winds with gusts up to 35 mph. Also chance for severe storms. I knew it was going to be a big mileage day so I decided to wake up at 3:30 a.m. to get an early start.
I was able to cross the Mississippi River into Missouri early before traffic picked up on the bridge. It's a small 2 lane bridge that can be busy with vehicular traffic. There is no shoulder on the bridge. Construction of a larger bridge is underway and it will hopefully be better for pedestrians/cyclists.
All went well until I made it about 10 miles down the road. I realized I didn't have my chest strap heart rate sensor. I laid it across my bicycle top tube last night so I wouldn't forget it. I forgot to put it on this morning and it fell off the bike at some point. I was not about to turn around and backtrack to look for it, especially since it would involve crossing the Mississippi River on that narrow bridge 2 additional times. I don't even know why I brought that thing on a bicycle tour. It's definitely not a critical piece of equipment, and not having it has released a burden of having 1 more "thing" to keep up with.
I ate 3 bananas and a granola bar for first breakfast then rode 47 miles to Farmington, MO to have a hot second breakfast at Huddle House.
It was a nice day of riding. There was very little rain and no storms during my ride. The wind was breezy at times, but I was in enough hills and trees that the wind was primarily blocked.
Below are a couple of pics of some Missouri countryside today.
I made it to the bicycle hostel in Ellington. I pitched my tent in the hostel's yard. At about 7:30 p.m. a rain shower passed thru and about 3:30 a.m. another shower passed thru, with a thunderstorm just north of the city. The thunder woke me up at 3:30, and in my half asleep state of being I thought there was a fireworks show. I then realized what time it was and that it was thunder in the distance.
Another cyclist, Tim, (pic below) stayed at the hostel. He is from Seattle and is biking the complete Transamerica route from Washington to Virginia. This is his first bicycle tour. He is riding a Kona bike that a bike shop let him ride. The bicycle was built up by a mechanic at the shop that had ALS. He is riding to raise funds for ALS.
Total miles today: 112.9
Total ascent: 6434 feet
Great report. Good job, and stay safe!
ReplyDeleteEddie
Thanks Eddie
DeleteKeep on rolling my friend! Godspeed!!
ReplyDeleteThanks
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