Home visit

Maggie:  "uhhh...who ARE you?"

What a great day of bicycling, almost perfect weather!  After a great night's sleep in the Iroquois Community Center and a nice big breakfast, it was off to Odell as my destination where Andrea would meet and pick me up for a short visit home.  Knocked out 65 miles in little over half a day, felt strong to the end, wind was at my back most of the way.  So wonderful to see Andrea and Maggie, and what a treat being home this evening!  Left my bicycle in Washington, Illinois, for a much needed refitting and service after doing close to 1000 miles, much of it on dirt and gravel roads.  The chain was completely worn out; new brakes and a much needed adjustment to the gear system were in order as well.  All in all, my bicycle performed magnificently and I've become quite attached to it, carrying on long conversations with "Traveler" as we roll through the miles hours after hour, after hour, after hour... SO WONDERFUL TO BE HOME FOR A SHORT VISIT!

For those of you following the Spot Buddy, you can see exactly where I was picked up, to where we traveled to have the bike serviced, and what route we took to get home. I forgot to turn the darn thing off...darn tattletale anyway!

After not being in an automobile for a month, it was quite an experience traveling at 65 miles an hour... A lot for the brain to process at that speed.

Iroquios, IL

Thank you Iroquois Village Hall for a wonderful night's sleep!

Yesterday the conditions started out windy but tapered off as time went by and I was able to do 55 miles. Great day of riding, beautiful country, and so good to enter back into Illinois after traveling so many miles.  The citizens of Iroquois, Illinois, are so gracious to cross-country bicyclists. They have opened up their social center to bikers so that they can shower and have a roof over their heads during the cold weather.  Arrived fairly early, could have done more miles, but there really was nowhere else to go. I will attempt to hook up with Andrea, my sweet wife, today and perhaps spend a little time at home. Plan to clean all my gear, have my bike serviced, and get ready for the next leg of the trip.  This trip has changed me immeasurably and I never will be quite the same. It is all for the good; stepping out of one's comfort zone is a growing experience!  I do not believe I ever will look at the United States in quite the same way. A trip like this is not for everyone, but it certainly was good medicine for me and I have fallen in love with our great country all over again.