August 1, 2024 – Across from the Sun Motel

    From Salem, I traveled through Odin, Sandoval, Huey, and Carlyle. My butt was killing me, but I kept pedaling anyway. In Carlyle I stopped to get out of the heat and write some poetry for the Acts musical at the Case-Halstead Public Library. Around about 4:00pm, I left the library and ate at a Subway. From there I pedaled back out into the table-flat rural farmland of Illinois...There are tons of corn fields, soy bean fields, hay fields, and the like. A few copses of trees run along the river. Big sky and menacing clouds popped up along this ride. Luckily, I dodged the rain this time. I pedaled all the way to Highland, Illinois. I slept at the pavilion of First Baptist Church of Highland. No one seems to mind if you camp out at churches. If I make it to town from here on out, I'm camping at churches. On the Katy Trail, however, I will probably camp along the trail or at campgrounds. Maybe I'll come across a town church that I can camp at as well.

    I packed up from Highland and made a short, but joyful ride to Edwardsville. I stopped at the 1^st bicycle shop that I have found on my route since Huntington, KY (Jeff's Bike Shop). This shop is called The Bike Factory. Bradly, from South Africa, and his coworker were a huge help I bought a new rear derailleur because mine broke on the trail. I also bought a patch kit. Those guys were life savers, or at least they were a long-walk saver. Thank you guys! From there, I booked a hotel (Econolodge) in Granite City, just south of Hartford, and the official start of the Lewis and Clark Trail. I took a day off here to regroup, do laundry, take a couple showers, rest, write, plan the trip, and take it easy. I'm off to the Lewis and Clark Historic State Park and the start of the trail tomorrow. God bless everyone and be with you all.