Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Biking to Effingham





It's
going
to be
hot
today!



Al
reviews
the
route.

Just 66 miles.

105 degree
heat index.





I go
for
ice!





Loading
up
the
gear...







Rolling
down
the
hall...





Packing
up
the
car...





Don't
read
the
newspaper!





Our
life
is
so simple
when we
bike.




The road.

The route.

The weather.



And Al
promises
me -

No gravel
roads
today!





And
no
Interstate
either...




Like
Goldilocks
we want
something
just
right.






Al's
rather
focussed
today
on getting in
the
miles...






So I
expect
I'll be seeing
a lot
of
her...






Little
Yellow
Ribbon.





I bought her
that
LYR
in
Boise, Idaho...




when
we
were
biking
across
America...

one
year
ago...





It
looked
a
little
fresher
back then.





We've all
put in
many miles
since
Boise.



Oh-oh!

Better
study
the
map...




back
here
in
Illinois...

it's time
to turn
south....









and
the way
those trucks
are
kicking up
dust...




we're
worried
the road
ahead
isn't
paved!

Whew!

Thank
goodness
it is!




Just a layer
of sand
covers it

for
some
obscure
purpose.




We pass
Camp New Hope
for
special
needs....






Lake
Mattoon
itself...






Whoa!

Watch
out!





I'd better
keep
my eyes
on the
road!




I've lost Al.

She gets
impatient
with my
picture taking
in
the
heat.





Maybe
I'll find
her
in
Neoga.





This
is a
railroad
town...



Amtrak
passes here
daily
from
Chicago
to
New Orleans.




I'd love
to
see
trains
come
back.





They're
so
civilized.






And look!

There's
Al!











Wait!

Let me
quick
get a
picture
of these tracks!

Oh, no.

I go down.



Elbow
scraping
on the
rails.

Ouch!




Luckily
KC is
nearby.

Full
of
sympathy.




Well...

not
so
much.





Luckily
we only
have
14 miles
to go.





Another
small
town.

Last count:
population 386.



And
tractors
of
every
hue.






We're
getting
close
to
Effingham.






Flags
flying...






Churches
pierce
the
sky!





It's
the
Crossroads
of
Opportunity
here!




The
courthouse
is
ordinary.





The
old
theater
is
closed.






But
look on
the
courthouse
lawn!





Amazing
sculptures
of
joy
and
dance!







Birds
in
flight!







And
in front
of the
town
hall...
























I could
stay
here
all day!






But
Al
is long
gone.




And
I've
got
those
danged miles
to go.


blah
blah
blah.





There's
KC.

Checking
up
on me.






Another
hotel.






Another
bed.




I'm tired
and
I want
to stay
in...











but
Al
insists
we eat
out...






at
the
Firefly
Grill











Great
choice,
Al!














Wonderful
food!




from
their
own
garden!







Bon Appetit
rates
them #2
Eco-eatery
in the
country...







And
we
agree!








The ride
to
Effingham
gets us
half way
to the
Summit.





Does
life
get any
better...






than
this?







8 comments:

  1. eh it was a pretty wimpy wound you get no sympathy from me =)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I followed the link from the CIBA facebook page, and I really enjoyed this account of your ride. I like both the story-telling style and the way you portray the pleasures--and occasional wounds--of cycling. Well done!

    Bill Watts

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Bill! Maybe you can cycle to Missouri sometime. Just avoid the gravel road west of Clinton!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sounds like a fabulous trip--what fun!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Do you know the Effingham song from Ben Folds?

    I love love love the art!

    ReplyDelete
  6. The art was great - best for the serendipitous find.
    I never heard of the song though....

    ReplyDelete