Mile 1474

After a lazy day yesterday and a small coffee run up to New Buffalo, MI, some laundry, and hanging around the pool, we wanted to make some distance today.  So we are up early, have the bike packed before the sun is up, and leave Elkhart, IN in the cool air of the morning.  We find the Lincoln Highway, and make our way through South Bend, IN, south to Plymouth, IN and then west to Valparaiso, IN and Joliet, IL.  As the heat is rising, we stop for lunch and some cool drinks, and then turn north, north-west to Aurora, IL and Geneva, IL to go west into Iowa to Cedar Rapids.  It has been a difficulty ride today, not only because of being another hot day, but also because of the absence of change in scenery.  Question, what do Indiana, Illinois and Iowa have in common?  Right, long straight roads, and lots of corn fields left, right, and ahead.  It's been now 15 years that we have been last in Iowa, and it appears that nothing has changed since then.  It is still flat, windy, and empty, and the sweet corn smell is all around you.  Didn't liked it then, don't like it now neither.

But the ride today had some interesting sights in store.  In Plainville, IL we drove on a short section where two iconic American roadways join, Route 66 (from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL) and Lincoln Highway (from New York, NY to San Francisco, CA) share a section for about three blocks before parting again.

Some sights from along the way today:

... and many thanks to all the birthday wishes I received throughout the day.

"Age is a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it don't matter." - Satchel Paige, American Baseball Player