7:30 start from Chester and a 11:30 arrival in Carbondale for bike shop activity then retreat back west to Murhpysboro for the night. An easy day to try to get rested and well.
A great morning ride 25 miles to this spot where we varied from our SE track along the Mississippi on IL3 to an easterly track towards Carbondale on IL149. The morning was very cool, in the 40's, but we had blue skies and very favorable winds that had us often riding 17-20 mph with very modest effort. It was a blessing as we wanted an easier day. We stopped at this little place which offered worms
as well as leaches for sale. We also found Yoo-hoo but no chocolate milk! We had a very friendly visit with the elder couple proprietors and they turned us on to a good side road into Murphysboro. We are now on the Trans America Trail and we'll be shifting more and more to the back roads and finding ourselves off the "grid" so to speak. I see fewer hotels and more camping in our future.
On the back way in to Murphysboro we saw 3 bald eagles circling over the banks of a small river. My camera phone doesn't do the image justice. How often do you get a chance to see a bald eagle soaring overhead?!
My dad, Stan Brand and his wife Bernie, drove about 2 hours from their home in Poplar Bluff to Carbondale to have lunch with us while our bikes were getting a little attention. Dad turned 81 on May 5th. We had a great visit. Fathers Day in May!
I'm afraid Bernie almost got lost in this selfie! Dad and Bernie did us a great favor by bringing a bike rack with them so that they could drive us and our bikes back west to our hotel as Carbondale was booked up for SIU graduation. It was only 7 miles but with 17 to 25 mph headwinds it wouldn't have been pleasant.
As we're heading further south and east into southern Illinois, heading for Cave-in-Rock to cross the Ohio River into Kentucky, I may have less and less access to the internet. I'll try to keep posting on a daily basis but it's possible I could skip a day or two. Hang in there and thanks for following our adventure to the Outer Banks. 🚴
So very nice that your father and his wife were able to meet you two for lunch! An early Fathers' Day indeed! Nice!
ReplyDeleteIt was excellent Stuart. We don't get to see each other very much due to the distance. I'm glad we could seize this moment. Thanks!!
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