Limited wifi has contributed to my getting behind in blogging, though I cannot blame that entirely. One of the things I love about these trips is that as each day goes by I am less and less focused on things I have to do outside of getting up, packing, riding my bike, unpacking and eating: lots of eating. Everything else falls away, including it appears writing this blog!
Illinois went by quickly. I have mostly been to Chicago when I have been in Illinois up until now, so I may seem a little like those people who think all of NY is like NYC. However, because I have explained so often about how different our part of NY is from NYC, it was not unexpected that all of IL is not like Chicago, but I did not expect our short time in IL to be so sad. So many communities no longer exist, except on a map. Even the Harrah's casino we stayed at for our last two nights there was more run down than I expected it to be and the community around it, probably displaced by the casino a while back was even more so.
In Metropolis, IL it used to be all about Superman - and here Lois Lane.
The big guy himself.
No one tends to this anymore.
They need Superman here.
Of course, kryptonite.
Perhaps promises were made.
Then we were off to Kentucky, the final state of this year's segment of the TransAm. Under any circumstances it would have been a long day at 97+ miles with significant climbing. But to make it harder, it was a very rainy day. It poured buckets. About half of us rode at least part of the way, and only 3 rode it all. I was not one. It was pretty miserable out there. But there was a ferry into Kentucky!
A break in the rain led Gail and Deb to get out if the van and give it a try.
This ferry just goes back and forth all day.
The only bright thing we saw were a few bicycles around town near the ferry.
Rose’s Kountry Kitchen was closed. It was the thought that counts, I guess.
The Opry House was closed too.
Once on the other sode of the river, Kentucky awaited! Pre-covid, this leg of the trip was supposed to involve a visit to my daughter, Sydney who, in 2020 lived in Eastern Kentucky. However, in 2021 she lives in Florida. So reaching Kentucky was not as exciting as I had thought it would be, but it is still a very beautiful place to ride a bike. One challenge is the many dogs who are not restrained and run at us and bark. Up until now it had been scary, but today we crossed that line and one of us was bitten and needed medical attention.
Cool car, cool signs.
These seemed to be pretty big plants growing up and out if the river.
Historic school now has 4-h logo
The Green River
Some shots of Falls of Rough state park, where we stay tonight.
We only have a few more rides this year, with our fourth and final leg expected next year. At a SAG stop today we looked at a map and the distance we have ridden our bikes from Florence, OR to where we are now in Kentucky. It is pretty cool to see. Onward!