Oh look! It’s a sunrise photo!
Little Grassy Lake in the background.
We were riding along when we came to an intersection that didn’t have an accompanying narrative on the map. I looked ahead on the map screen on my Garmin to the next turn to see which way to go. Then shortly after, I realized the reason there was no narrative, was because we had missed a turn. It wasn’t really too big of a deal, it just added a mile or so extra on this already long day. Later I said to Doug that apparently, two heads are NOT better than one, because we both missed where it said to turn (saw the turn, just didn’t see we were supposed to turn there). On the road we weren’t supposed to go on, we came to a downed tree. There was a guy attempting to clear enough to get his car through, but that wasn’t going to happen. We, on the other hand, just walked our bikes under the one side. There are advantages to having two wheels. Later, all the cars starting coming back.
Back on the route, we came to the town of Goreville. There was a small grocery store just as we came into town. We stopped for our mid-morning snack. Then it was more curious routing through the town. Once we finished with that map panel, we were happy. That had not been the best.
We went through various “towns” on the map that had nothing. Then, in a spot that wasn’t a town, there appeared a Dollar General! It was new, open just three months. We both got something to drink. By the way, it was quite warm (as always) and very humid (also like always). We go through lots and lots of fluids. You’d think I’d have to pee every mile, but nope, I just sweat it out!
We were doing the usual ups and downs. Today, there were those signs indicating a downhill. Well, in my opinion, Illinois overuses those signs. The downhills were not nearly long enough or steep enough to warrant those signs!
This one wasn’t too bad…as in, it was a decent downhill.
It was just after noon when we came down one of the many hills that just went right back up again. We had come across a bridge, when I noticed a creek access sign and some picnic tables. While I hated to stop at the bottom of the hill, it was a good place for some lunch. The creek was called Lusk Creek.
The creek
The other direction with the bridge we had ridden across.
A Cardinal flower at our lunch spot.
After lunch, we rode up the hills with our legs protesting mightily. Ah…but soon they were warmed back up again and no longer complaining.
But by bit, the miles ticked by. We were getting closer and closer to the Ohio River. For awhile, we were going along it, but couldn’t see it. Just before we came into Elizabethtown, we caught a glimpse.
In Elizabethtown, we stopped at a Sinclair for something to eat and drink. While we were eating, lo and behold, another cyclist rolled in. His name was Ian, and he was from near Boulder, CO. He had started from Seaside, OR. Today, he had come from Murphysboro, and was going to Cave-In-Rock State Park (somewhere over 90 miles). We would have liked to do that too, but it was another 7+ miles. Plus, we were curious about this place called Tower Rock, and there was a USFS campground there. So, we’ll probably not see him again.
As we rode away from the Sinclair, I saw a spot where we could check out the river.
There it is, the mighty Ohio River! By the way, that’s Kentucky across the river.
We had about 6 miles left to go to Tower Rock. On Tower Rock Rd, we came across this.
A bicycle rest stop! You could even charge your phone!
Very cute! If they had come out and asked if we wanted to set up our tents in their yard, we would have said YES! But they didn’t.
We found the Tower Rock Campground. Upon inspection, there seemed to be no water. Hmmm…the map didn’t say there was no water. We had a chat about whether filtering water from the Ohio River was a good idea or not. We decided we had definitely filtered from worse sources, and lived to tell the tale…so…we would do it. I actually took off my shoes and socks so I could wade in a bit away from the silt (and it felt pretty good on my hot feet too).
Stocked up on water, we went back to our own private campground, and set up camp (I say “private” because there is no one else here).
The campground is all ours!
Pretty soon, we (well, I heard) the rumble of a tug boat pushing a barge on the river.
Since this one, there have been several more.
As I sit in my tent writing this post, I can see fireflies flickering out in the grass. I love watching fireflies!
I think I know why no one says anything about Illinois. We are just not here long enough to find anything worth passing on to other cyclists. Tomorrow we will ride the rest of the way to Cave-In-Rock, then take the ferry across the river to state number 10, Kentucky!
One final photo I’ve been meaning to take…
We’ve seen tons of these flowers. They are some kind of Lily. Interesting thing is that they don’t have any leaves.
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