Jim's Ride Across America: May 2015

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Day 20 Elizabethtown, IL to Goreville, IL

Yorktown, VA to Goreville, IL Completed 1,132 miles

Biking Detail Elizabethtown, IL to Goreville, IL

Day 20 Sunday, May 31

Took our time this morning and left Elizabethtown at 9:50 AM. Had breakfast first at a local restaurant near the B & B while Andreas broke down his campsite. Still no cell service and we've been on the road two hours! Traveling in the Shawnee National Forest area. Have seen several horse trailers. Several long horse trails through this area as well as hiking and biking trails. Got to Eddyville, about 20 miles, and took a lunch break at a mini mart gas station. Ran into a local named Bill Kinney, probably around 90, who struck up a conversation about his life. Ended up giving Margie a CD he recorded of himself and the Eddyville Jammers, highlighting a song he wrote called You Won't Walk Alone. Wrote it after 911. September 11th is his wedding anniversary and inspired the song. Songs are a combination of country and gospel! Keeping Margie entertained as she drives.

Met two other bikers both going West. One was just starting his journey East to Washington DC at the Eddyville mini mart we stopped at. His name was Josh (see pic), a teacher in St. Louis going unsupported. Have a good ride Josh! The other biker was from South Korea and named Ming. He was also going to Washington DC. He and his bike were loaded in a trailer and he said he was spending the night with the farmer who was hauling him. It looked like he was a little overloaded with his bike for the hills ahead. Good luck on your journey Ming (see pic).

Three steep big hills on the way today. One at 16.5 miles a juicy 10%-15% grade and another at 21.5 miles an 11%-12% climb. Then just to be cruel a 15% hill entering Goreville. The other hills just kept on coming, they were relentless, up and down, up and down. For a 50 mile ride my legs took a good beating.

Caution to bikers leaving Eddyville. As you turn Left on 145 the road is under construction and for three miles (until you turn on W147) you'll have rough road....a three mile massage! No alternate route for that stretch. Hopefully will finish up before too many more bikers have to contend with it! We were without cell phone service majority of the day, until about ten miles before Goreville where we stopped for the night.

Andreas stopped to talk with his family in Germany while Margie and I visited the Bella T Winery. Watch for the sign on the trail after crossing over US 45. Nice little break. Got to Goreville and Andreas went to the Fern Clyffe State Park to camp and we began a search for a motel. An hour later, after driving to Vienna, found a cabin on-line back near the state park in Goreville called Cedar Rock Cabins. Only one they had was a two bedroom with full kitchen and private outside jacuzzi for $139...not what we wanted to pay for a room but it was 6:00 pm and it was that or pitch a tent. We opted for comfort. Great cabin with good WiFi so all good. Water in jacuzzi not real hot and water color sort of green so opted out of that! Settled in with crackers, cheese, apples, almonds and wine for dinner! Will be an early night!

Our hostess in Elizabethtown Andreas, Sue, Margie, me

Josh starting out to Washington DC

Margie's signed copy of Bill Kinney's Eddieville Jammers

Ming and all his gear headed to Washington DC

Fried Bologna sandwich and Fries too, only 3 bucks

The horses are friendly

Our side-trip to the winery

The hound-dog at the winery made friends with me

These are grapes

Don't think Margie will be doing laundry here

Our cabin for the night

Nice fire pit

Hot tub water was green so we passed

Nice little deck too

Best part a comfy bed

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Day 19 Sebree, KY to Elizabethtown, IL

Yorktown, VA to Elizabethtown, IL Completed 1081 Miles

Biking Detail Sebree, KY to Elizabethtown, IL

Day 19 Saturday, May 30

Up early to get a jump on the day. Quick bowl of instant oatmeal and on the road by 7:20. Rolling hills pretty much on the stretch from Sebree to Dixon then flat farm lands for next few miles BUT pretty strong wind in the face the entire way. Still seeing corn! Have to support all that Kentucky bourbon. Stopped at Jeri's cafe in Clay about 9:30 and had late breakfast. Really ready for a rest after the headwinds. Have a twenty two mile stretch before anything else and some elevation to contend with. Needed the nourishment! Next several miles to Marion still windy but not as bad as first 20 miles.

Had an interesting happening as we were stopped along the road. A sheriff pulled up and told us to be on the lookout for a boy and a girl on a four wheeler who they have been hunting down for four days! Told us to call 911 if we spotted them! Asked if they were armed and he hesitated with an answer. Made it to Marian without spotting them, but actually had a sighting about an hour later as we approached the ferry to IL and we called 911 to report it. Stopped in Marion so Andreas could try and stream a German final soccer cup game that started at 1:00. Stopped first at Marion Cafe but their Wifi down so he biked over to McDonalds where they have WiFi. Had a quick rainfall so stayed put at the cafe and ate some fried dill pickles. Very good. Left Andreas at McDonalds to listen to the game and forged ahead to the ferry. Met up with him at end of day.

Ride from ferry to Elizabethtown, eleven miles, was not bad. One last hill before arriving was very cruel and not fun. We were welcomed by owner Bruce at the The Rose Hill BB. Awesome historic house, right on the Ohio River. Visited with Bruce and wife Sue on the porch while enjoying some cold beer. Andreas arrived and got his tent set up in the back...opting to camp tonight even though wind is still blowing pretty good. They offer cyclists the option to camp with access to full bathroom and shower set up. Good deal. Special room rate for cyclists as well. We will end the night with dinner at the E Town floating restaurant across the street (about the size of a small garage) with catfish as their specialty. This is a great little historic town, population 306. We are definitely seeing rural America!

Illinois is the shortest crossing of any of states we travel through, only 133 miles. Go through Illinois Ozarks and the Shawnee National Forest before we cross into Missouri.

Coty (she has a friend in Poulsbo) and Margie say goodbye

Saw some horses today

The quilt trail goes on

Our fried pickles in Marion

That's Illinois on the far side, ferry coming to Kentucky side

It's actually a barge with a small tugboat for power

One bike on the ferry

This is 30 seconds before it poured

View out our front window

Can't see a thing

Hoping there is a life jacket for Margie and I

In case it goes down we have the name

We almost did the deep six

Yeah! Our third state!

Our B&B in Elizabethtown

That's the Ohio River in the background, flows into the Mississippi 80 miles south

This is the only place you can by beer for miles around

Our friendly beer salespeople

Scenery from B&B

This is our catfish restaurant

Andreas decided to camp

I was chased by one of these 20 foot tall tractors

Just taking a break Andreas and me

This is the oldest Hotel in Illinois established in 1812 across the street from our B&B

Friday, May 29, 2015

Day 18 Falls of Rough, KY to Sebree, KY

Yorktown, VA to Sebree, KY Completed 1015 Miles

Biking Detail Falls of Rough, KY to Sebree, KY

Day 18 Friday, May 29

Side Note: After finishing our our blog last evening we met a couple who suggested we go to Lindy's Ice Cream Shop just up the road. Apparently we had biked passed it on the way to the lodge. They said she had a door for all cyclists to sign as well as being an excellent ice cream shop. So we stopped by, met Lindy and her husband, had a nice chat and signed the door. See pics below.

We also had a significant milestone yesterday: we changed time zones somewhere along the route and are now in the Central Time Zone. Wow we crossed a time zone.

With the time change yesterday got up a little earlier. On the road at 7:25 AM. Just had a banana and cliff bar to start the day. Did not want to go through the breakfast buffet in the lodge, hoping to get in 60-70 miles today. Not much on this route in the way of food and lodging. Either fire station in Utica or a Baptist church in Sebree. Should be able to make good time. Climbs are at the beginning of the day. Four pretty nice hills about 5 miles into the ride. All running 8%-10%. Occasionally we still get the 12% thigh burner. The rollers were pretty tough until we got about 25 miles into the ride. After our rest stop the rollers got nicer and there were actually some flat sections where we could cruise. Had a mostly side wind which was helpful at times depending of the the road direction. Nice tailwind for the last couple miles into Sebree.

Stopped in Fordsville at a small-town diner for breakfast. The grill person was working at southern pace, took about 40 minutes to get breakfast cooked. Eggs, sausage, potatoes, biscuits and gravy for me. Veggie omelet for Andreas. Probably not a whole lot of diners on today's route so took advantage of this one. Headed out again about 10:50. Very rural back roads for next several miles with nothing but corn farms. Must be supplying the major ingredient for all that Kentucky bourbon!! Stopped at a couple of mini marts for breaks. Not much else on the route. Went through Utica where could have stopped but only 1:00 pm so pushed on to Sebree and beat the rain. Clouds rolling in and thunderstorms predicted for this evening. Arrived in Sebree about 4:00 PM and found the First Baptist Church. Great find. Totally catered to cyclists. Five already there so eight of us tonight. Fun visiting and sharing notes.