String of Friends

Static Map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/410060557?privacy_code=PgCpUMzlMf7W0SoTIyEnLFfQSNTqe4f9 Animated map:  https://www.relive.com/view/v1Ow7N2Y9EO I awoke thankful for AC, but thought I'd give hot weather camping a go tonight at Channhon State Park. It's right on the trail. There are no showers so it'll be a water bottle bath today. The trail goes through more towns so I didnt need to worry about overheating as much.  I decided to take a side trip over to Starved Rock State Park from the b&b to see some of the slot canyons it's famous for. I was only able to see one, but what a beautiful place! And I had it to myself! I enjoyed the echoey solitude before moving on. I also stopped by Starved Rock itself. It got its grim name in an apocryphal story that a group of Illinois were besieged there by a group of Potawatomi and starved. More known is that the French had a fort there.  (Entrance to French Canyon) Going back to the Lander's Ho...

Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/409810764?privacy_code=QcjBCjrQii1aAxG5YC2t5OxyVQGQFMUK Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vPOp7YXP9Ev It was, in my mind, supposed to be a 53 mile day. It was going to be in the mid 90s with high humidity, but I'd get to camp early and rest and relax. Plus, much of the day was going to be on a flat bike trail. It turned out to be one of the most grueling days of the trip so far.  I decided to eat at the restaurant at the park. I couldn't finish the enormous spread. It was my fault. I was warned the pancakes were huge. Eating at the restaurant also gave me time to dry my tent. I was moving at 8:30. The old 2022 me would have left at first light.  (No, I didn't finish it all) I quickly made the trail on a busy-ish road with great shoulders. Then it was time for the Hennepin Canal Trail. A canal trail just seems cool even though the canal was never a commercial success. It opened in 1907, way after other...

(Famous round barn built to house a renowned brain surgeon's cows) Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/409540684?privacy_code=pf2c5Qs718AWMCLI9QdHpo4LQxB5onDM Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vMv8zQjjZP6 SOFAUS 3 Day 10 Yesterday was a rest day. I hung out in Galesburg all day. I'm not going to write much except to say I rode to Target to buy replacement clothes, had brunch at Judy’s Family Cafe. With her 600K Instagram followers, she is better at marketing than pancakes. I really wanted to poke in the Knox College buildings but, alas, they were close summer Sundays. I took solace with iced Americanos at two different coffeeshops. In the afternoon, I went back to Hana’s. I decided to make dinner for her and Haylee. She and Haylee were with f friends so I poked around their kitchen trying to find where they put stuff. I had so much fun winging it on Sweet Potato Tacos. Thus ended the day.  The weather was turning. It was going to get humid and hot. We ...

(Perfect backroads cycling) Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/409080874?privacy_code=4pxOVyaYMdx1LRVMOPy0gQoTf7tGUsDh Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/v26MDGooN3O SOFAUS 3 Day 8 The bartender at the Half Nelson recommended taking the new Oculus Bridge over the Mississippi. It was a few miles to the east, which would normally have been perfect, but today I was headed south. Still, I had time. After morning coffee at the Brewed Book, I headed to the river. Another happy accident was running into an antique tractor show. I was in a nice revived historic district too. I chatted a bit then biked the two blocks to the river. I meandered along the path enjoying being near the river. Soon I was at the Oculus.  (The Brewed Book) Crossing it, another cyclist pedalled up and asked where I was going. We were talking so much that I failed to notice the Welcome to Illinois sign. Nevertheless, I got the word on the best way out of town. The best way wasn’t...

(The Wilton Candy Kitchen) Static map: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/408817775?privacy_code=IhQd4qMEL08XOpkEVtp0QkYZrI6OT7tc Animated map: https://www.relive.com/view/vXvLDdd8L7v I woke up at 5:30. Normal for me. I decided to get an early start. I'm glad I did because it's going to be a longer ride than I thought. The dew was heavy and condensation on the inside of the rain fly occasionally dripped, plink, on something. I was out of camp just before 7:00.  From camp I could hear the road. I was dreading riding in the three miles necessary to get to a bike trail. The way out of the park was beautiful. People overlook the beauty of the prairie and so little is left. At the turn off to the road from the park I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was it not so busy, but it has a good shoulder. Bike tourers are obsessed with road shoulders.  (Morning beauty) Soon I hit bike trails, the first sign of a bigger city. I thought of Iowa City as strictly a college ...