Day 14

Wakened at 06:00 ... had hoped to be up earlier but the bull frogs in the nearby pond kept me awake. There was a band of thunder and lightening which swept through the area last night ... very little rain hit me but you could feel the air getting cooler and the wind picked up. I was fine. Didn't get properly underway until 07:30 ... it's Sunday and the road is very quiet ... too quiet ... I'm out in the middle of nowhere on a straight level road and I come to a four way stop sign ... I can see for miles ... I swear, I can even make out the curvature of the Earth! I stop ... any excuse for a break and a drink. You never know, there might be a cop hiding behind a billboard as you see in the movies ... except there are no billboards! I continue on passing a few ranches with lots of horses and the smell would 'cope' you ... can't understand how those horsey people can live with that. The last few miles of the road into Peru twists and turns for no apparent reason but I get there ... 30 miles on the clock before 10 o'clock. It's a nice little town ... I'll get some breakfast and move out later Temperature high at 86F but I can just about manage to keep flowing. Indiana is not as tidy as Ohio ... the soil looks good but the fields are scruffy and waterlogged in places. The road to Monticello twists and turns, up and down small rises and parts remind me of southern Ireland? Met a teenager here in town ... he was taken on with my bike and adventure ... he said "Gee if you can do it then so could I!" ... Hmmm ... I took it as a compliment and wished him a good day. I've done 67.2 miles and it's now 19:30 ... will travel a few more miles out of town and set up the tent. This has been a good day ... very productive. There must have been a lot of rain here lately ... the fields are flooded in parts and there's a smell of rotten vegetation. I see a fallen tree in a big garden with an ideal spot to pitch the tent ... must ask permission first. I've called at the home of Steven Jones and Kathy Dekader and several big dogs. They are a bit surprised to see me but not only allow me to camp in the corner but Steve's mum supplied me with hot food and goodies and lovely ice cold water. Thanks folks ... sorry I didn't take a photograph at the time. Slept well once all the bangs and firework explosives were over.

Location:Peru, Indiana