DAY 20
Marion, KY to Goreville, IL
Our four fellow cyclists have already boarded the ferry. One of the ships crew is holding a chain beginning the departure process. Becky and I are 30 seconds out and closing fast. The man sees us and waves us on. Goodbye Kentucky, Hello Illinois! The murky brown waters of the Ohio River surge by. On the other side awaits our third state out of the 10 total we'll pass through. "One step closer," I think to myself with an ever widening grin on my face.
Marion, KY to Goreville, IL
Our four fellow cyclists have already boarded the ferry. One of the ships crew is holding a chain beginning the departure process. Becky and I are 30 seconds out and closing fast. The man sees us and waves us on. Goodbye Kentucky, Hello Illinois! The murky brown waters of the Ohio River surge by. On the other side awaits our third state out of the 10 total we'll pass through. "One step closer," I think to myself with an ever widening grin on my face.
Last pedals in Kentucky!
 On the ferry, heading to Illinois |  |
Another 70+ miles into Goreville today. Which doesn't seem bad on paper until you factor in all the intangibles like humidity, sun, wind, rain, and PUD's. Y'all are familiar with and have heard me complain about the first four enough, but let me fill you in about these dreaded PUD's. PUD's is a hiking term I brought over to the cycling world simply because they exist in both. A PUD is when a trail, or in a cyclists case a road, seems to go up over a ridge or hill just to come back down the other side for no apparent reason. There isn't a great view, it's not the most efficient path, and there seems to be no value gained through the effort put forth. Therefore these unnecessary detours are deemed Pointless Ups and Downs, or PUD's. Today's journey was latent with PUD's. I can't say enough bad things about them. In the end you just have to put your faith in the Trail Gods that there is a greater reason which is above our understanding. F***ing PUD's.
First pedals in Illinois!
 Getting the bags ready for some more rain |  |
Because we rose at 4:45 and were on our bikes by 5:30 this morning, this difficult day at least ended early. We were off the roads and enjoying a cool Powerade in the basement of Goreville's United Methodist Church by 2:30. It really started to get warm after 12 o'clock, and the sustained 20+ mph winds and rain drained every drop of energy from our bodies. We'll sleep very well tonight.
"We slept the sleep of the just, the just plain tired." -Edward Abbey
"We slept the sleep of the just, the just plain tired." -Edward Abbey
 A well deserved meal at Subway |  |
Very happy to be sleeping inside with clouds that look like this, thank you Goreville United Methodist Church!
Stats:
Miles: 72.48
Average speed: 10.2 mph
Max speed: 37.4 mph
Miles: 72.48
Average speed: 10.2 mph
Max speed: 37.4 mph
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