Biking to Edwardsville

88 

miles

to go

today...

our

longest

day

of the 

week....

and

maybe

the 

hottest!













We start off
early
to
beat
the heat.

Not
so much
picture
taking
today,
Mom.

We've got
too many miles
and
too much sun.

I'll try, Al.

But I've got
to catch
the
Effingham
cross!

200 feet tall!

I love
these
small
Midwest
towns!

One of my
favorite
aspects
of
cross-country
biking...

...is
seeing
these
non-descript
spots
on a
map...

transform
into
real
places...

with
real
people.

The
library
with
the
oil rig...

the actual
oil rig
in the
fields
of
Illinois...

Al,
there's
so much
to see!

This is,
after all,
the
real
America!

OK!

I'm
coming!

We enter
Vandalia...

Another
map
spot.

Whoa, Al!

Look
at
this statue!

It's the
Madonna
of the
Trail!

Vandalia
was
the
Western
edge
of the
old
Cumberland
road!

And
look!

This old
statehouse
is where
Lincoln
first
made a stand
against
slavery!

They have
sites
like these
all over
Illinois!

Alex
is
non-plussed.

She stops
at
Casey's
for a
snack.

I head on
to enjoy
the
Vandalia
architecture.

Look
at this
cool
old
Victorian
house!

I love
the
colors!

Hello?

I hear
a
voice
coming from
the
front porch.








It's Andy
and Max!

Andy
is
house-
sitting
this lovely
Victorian
manor.

As we
chat
I realize
Alex
must have taken
a different turn
out of
Vandalia.

I leave Andy
with a request
to wave down
Al
if he sees her
go by.

And I
head
out of
town.

Suddenly
my Droid
rings!

It's KC
in a panic.

Al's phone
can't call
mine.

Where am I?

She's
lost me
somewhere
in the
Illinois wilds
west of
Vandalia.

With
KC's help
we
reconnect.

I get a
stern
talking-to
about how
I'm not
to get
lost.

It's good
having Al
around.

My chain
is giving me
trouble...

dropping
off
the gear
at random
times.

And it's
getting
so hot!

We drink
constantly.

And
stop
in the
shade
of
friendly
trees.

The sun
is
starting
to get
to me.

When
we finally
get
to
another
Casey's...

I slip
to the
floor.

I listen
dazedly
as
KC
gets
directions.

"It's only
22 miles
by car
to Hamel"
the lady says.

22 miles
by car?

Is it
farther
by
bicycle?

Maybe
a snack
will help.

I'm trying
to
keep up,
Al!

But
it's
so
hot!

And I do
need
a picture
at Ripley.

since
that's 

my bike's 

name.

Can't
quite
make it
to Hamel
without a
break.

It must be
100 degrees
or
more
in the
shade!

And
here
comes
KC!

Cool
as
a
cucumber!

We
need
water!

Back
on the
road.


Just
a few
more
miles.

Finally!

Hamel!

And
an
air-conditioned
Shell
station!

Lots
of
drinks!

And Luke
tells us
it's only
7 miles
to
Edwardsville!












Hooray!

We're on
Route 66
now!

And we
find

- to our
surprise -

a flurry
of bike
trails!

All
leading
to
Edwardsville!

We're
on our
way
now!

This trail
is gravel
but it's
nicely packed
and
bikeable.

It may be
eight miles
but
we
make it
into town.

It must
be
105
degrees!

I dive
into
a cool
Arby's
to grab
dinner.

Al can't wait.

I'm going
on to
the hotel,
Mom!

I'm
cruising
on the
sidewalk
now.

The hotel
should be
just
around the
corner, yes?

Quick stop
at a
cycle
shop.

(Too hot
to take
the pic
from the
outside).

Great shop!

They fix
my bike
in
no time
flat!

Turns out
I bent
something
on that
railroad
track.

And the
helpful staff
tells me
I'm on
the wrong
road.

My hotel
is 3 blocks
over.

On 157,
not 159!

Quick!

Call
KC!

To call
Alex!

Turn back!

Myself?

I turn down
the staff's
offer
to drive me
to the
hotel.

Bravely,
I face
the heat
and bike
myself
to the
Country Inn.

But
where
is
Al?

She
lumbers
in the door
30 minutes
later....

And falls
on the
floor
-feet up-
to drain
lactic acid
from her
aching
feet.

Rest up, Al.

Tomorrow
will be
an easy
day.

Biking
just
30
miles...


...into
St Louis!