Eminence, Mo.

The laundromat is the only place in town with wifi, so guess where the transamers were hanging out.

To Lesterville

You can get almost anything at a country has station. There goes the beer truck with our after ride refreshments.

Farmington Mo.

Ingo making frikadels (yes, they also call them that in Germany) while Bill learns how and Adam and Chris working through their novels.

To Farmington Mo.

Now that we've crossed the Mississippi we are truly heading out west. The big roller coaster continues into Missouri. The route notes correctly described the ups and downs as unrelenting. You fly down one side at up to 40 mph and crawl up the next one at 4 mph. To add to the fun we got thoroughly drenched by heavy rain. Today's roads were in much better condition than what we rode on in Illinois.

Crossing the Mississippi

Our police escourt waiting to take us across the narrow bridge.

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.