Day 15

Can't believe I've been on the road for 2 weeks ... phew, time flies ... bicycle odometer tells me I've done 880 miles ... still a long way to go. This is "Independence Day" and as I pass through the small town of Wolmott I notice a festival gathering in the local park. I'll hang around for a bit ... have a shave and then see what happens. Not too far from the Illinois state line and would like to get there sooner rather than later.


Outside the home of Kathy Dekader Been trying to upload a video of me on the road but though I've placed the video on YouTube, I still haven't managed to embed or link it in. I'll work at it. Met two interesting characters today ... one was a fellow cyclist coming from Las Vegas (left 25May) enroute to Toronto. He was younger than me but a bit stouter ... he looked in good shape ... stays in motels and takes a rest day every 5 days or so. Covers the same daily distances as I do and cycles very, very slowly in the heat ... it was nice to compare notes. The other character was Ray Sisney, a very intelligent scrap dealer whom I met in McDonald's. He's taught himself a lot in life and was fun to be with. I must have crossed a time zone ... note that my phone has me an hour earlier than my watch. It's getting hot and I'm cooling down for a while before pushing on ... should hit the 70 mile again today and if I find a nice spot might even take a rest day. Would like to check over the bike and do a general cleanup. The rivers are useless here ... they're not clean enough to swim or wash in ... noticed a few lakes on the map that might be more promising. I've a lot of emails to acknowledge too ... people are responding to the blog and I will get around to you in time ... thanks for your support. Sleeping out in a tent is no big deal ... I'm very comfie ... it's usually too warm to get into the sleeping bag ... I just open it up and drape it over myself. For a pillow I stuff all my soft clothing into a heavy black bag with a t-shirt used as the pillow case. It's great. Its best to pitch the tent on flat short lawn grass ... It's easier to camp here than in damp northern Europe.


Into the land of Abe Lincoln, I think? I've another 3 hours of cycling so should get up to the 70 mile mark. Temperature is now 92F and I'm beginning to feel it ... there's a McDs in Watseka so I'll cool off in there! Passed a lovely little creek with fast flowing clean water and had a cat's lick of a cleanup ... washed the socks while still wearing them ... does that count? It's so easy to go for a dip as the water is lukewarm and you dry off in minutes ... I did wash my hair with soapy stuff too. All the shops in the towns are closed for the holiday and I'm expecting big firework displays this evening ... some are even as good as the beach night during the Cushendall Festival week! Finally managed to do it: My YouTube Video

Location:Monticello, IN