Popeye

E. C. Segar, creator of Popeye, was from Chester.

Popeye

Popeye is big in Chester. But I couldn't find spinach on the menu of the Eagles club where we ate.

Chester

Our tents huddled around the shelter in Cole Memorial Park.

Chester, Il

Wonder if we'll be eating spinach tonight?

To Carbondale

Check out these stunners I saw on the way to a rest day in Carbondale

Dixon County State Park

After struggling up the last climb of day, paradise appeared in the form of a chocolate and ice cream factory. Yummy! Our camping for the night was in the state park across the state road.

Ohio River boat

10 of us crammed our bikes, and ourselves, onto the river taxi for the 10 mile trip down the Ohio from Elizabethtown to Golkonda. The others that were cycling ahead missed out on the fun. It doesn't always pay off to be the leader of the pack.

Elizabethtown

Bake sale on Main St. Eating pizza while selling cookies and getting the truck drivers to honk their horns.

Ohio River

Taking the ferry across the Ohio River from Kentucky to Illinois.

Marion KY

Our camping spot in Marion's park. I'll remember this town because a stranger offered us a ride to get our groceries, which was heaven sent after a long ride and I'm on cooking duty too! And then we asked the ladies at the tuckshop for the little league softball game next to where we are camped if we could use their sink to wash our dishes, and they not only welcomed us in, but did our dishes too! These acts of kindness from strangers totally overshadows the fact that we have no showers here and are all a bit sweaty and smelly!

To Marion

Had 70 miles to Marion today. But with views like this, it was a good day. And no afternoon storm!

Green river

Coal barges on the Green river

To Marion

Morning light across the wheat fields.

To Utica KY

The welcome sight of a Pepsi vending machine at the t-junction at the end of a seemingly endless string of rolling hills.

To Utica KY

Pedaling the Kentucky rollercoaster. You crest one roller and there's the next one waiting. They just kept coming today. It's fun in the morning but the legs don't think so in afternoon!

Thunderstorm

We were heading into an angry dark storm. They call them frog stranglers here. Took shelter under a church porch, but not before getting totally drenched.

Hardin County KY

L to R: Carl (70) from California, New York Bob, and me taking a break in the shade of a country store's veranda. Free popsicles for cyclists here!

Hodgenville

The community hall where we showered, a local clogging group practicing their joeys, donkeys, double cross steps and a bunch of other crazy named moves while having a whole lot of good country fun. Yeeeha!

Hodgenville

Bill (closest) and Steve doing email and journals while supper is getting rustled up in the background.