July 15

July 15, 2013

As much as last night was a debacle with no bathroom within half mile, tonight we feel like we died and went to heaven.  Like in “all dogs go to heaven.  We have a campsite with showers and a bathroom within walking distance, there is nobody else in the campground, and better yet, there is nobody to collect money for payment.  And the flies are not as bad.  We are in the town of, and I am not making this up, Cave in the Rock.  Jack could not find a soul in town to talk to.  A true ghost town.  We can see Kentucky.  Tomorrow we take a ferry across the Ohio into the Bluegrass state.

Our day began about 6:15.  Jack did not ride today.  Food poisoning.  Mexican food.  I am partly responsible because I picked this “friendly little place” for us to get out of the sun yesterday.  Our trip today took us through Carbondale, home of the Southern Illinois Salukis.  Reminds me a lot of WKU.  Directions are getting tougher on our maps.  Lots of twists and turns.  Today, we missed a turn because the street was unmarked.  We turned later, and all worked out, but there is that fear of turning in the wrong place or direction and having to go back.   Not the same as in a car.

We stopped for coffee in Goreville (guy in the café said it was the bicycle capital of Illinois), at a place called Delaney’s.  Great service and hospitality and a bonus.  Bikers get free desserts.  We opted for chocolate milkshakes.   One of the best ever.  Finally got a pancake and coffee.  They even had a “Jack stack”, but Jack couldn’t partake because of being ill.  Back on the trail, we took an alternate route along a bike trail that was less hilly than the normal route and eventually got us back on a road on our route.  Nice change of pace.  It was part of a national program called “rails to trails”.  We went through a city called Elizabethtown, pop 299 and into Cave in the Rock, pop 318. Total mileage, about 107 miles.  Climate is changing, ore humidity. 

Saw a church slogan today, “God does not have a plan B”.

We stopped at the Chocolate Factory.  Good sthuff.  Couldn’t take any with us because it would melt immediately.  Had to eat it there.  Saw more correctional institutes today.  Across from the chocolate factory was a boot camp for inmates.  They were doing drills and carrying logs. 

Road are ok.  Still not much shoulder.  But better than Missouri where it was so common to put the rumble strips right on the right line which is where bicyclists ride to stay out of traffic.  Made no sense, but you would not know that if you don’t ride on the public roads.  Not many “knuckleheads” lately.  Cars and trucks have been very courteous.

Tomorrow, we head to Utica.  Going to stay at a volunteer fire department.  Payment is beer in the fridge.  About 80 miles closer to Berea.

Jeff, Jerry, Jack, and Sue