Get Your Kicks Ride – Day Two

After closing out last night I was able to catch the last quarter of the LSU-Clemson game. Wasn’t much of a game by that point but I watched anyway. LSU had a sizeable lead over Clemson and would easily pull off the victory. The season for the real Tigers from Baton Rouge looks promising. With the final whistle blown, I was off to get some much needed rest. It was still quite hot so my sleeping bag was opened, only so that could lay on the soft fabric on the inside. The sounds of the nearby highway didn’t faze me any and I was soon asleep.

I awoke earlier than I had intended, much earlier, about five hours earlier. Between the heat and the noise I only managed about three hours of solid sleep. I am in and out of sleep until I finally get up at 7:30. I had intended to wake at 8:00. I’ve got a relatively short day today, about 350 miles of interstate travel and only a little more than five hours, plus gas stops and lunch. I was hoping to get an extra hour of sleep before heading out, didn’t happen.

It’s off to the showers first wash yesterday’s 600 miles off of me. KOA’s are nice but they’re still campgrounds and campground showers aren’t always the best. By the time I finish my quick shower I’m standing in three inches of water. It’s a minor struggle to get my pants on without getting them wet. I quick brush of the teeth and I’m done. Back outside and I’m immediately sweating again. The sun is still fresh in the sky and it’s already swelteringly hot. Time to make my coffee and begin tearing down camp. I actually remember to put on sun screen this morning, something I often fail to do. Not sure it did much good as my arms and face are covered in sweat. The group of bikers next door have yet to stir, I only see one of them by the time I roll out at 9:00.

It’s another clear blue sky morning. I’ve got about half a tank of gas but decide to stop and fill up at a gas station just down the road. I also need water and as it happens a koozie, which I forgot to bring (wasn’t on my list). Back on the interstate now. It’s all farmland on this stretch of highway, most of it is already harvested, the base of corn stalks is all that remains. I run through this for about 60 miles before reaching the Missouri state line. The farmlands continue but only about half of these have been harvested. Golden fields of corn and acres upon acres of green soybeans fly by. There’s very little traffic today. Yesterday was good, but there were a lot of trucks out on the road. No construction either, yet.

As I approach the Illinois state line the first signs for construction appear. They’re working on a bridge that takes me across the Mighty Mississippi and into Illinois. The road on this side of the river is surrounded by thick forest, as stark contrast to the flat fields of farmland behind me. There’s very little out here aside from the trees. I finally happen upon a truck stop and pull off to fill up and refresh my water. I meet a biker couple and we chat briefly as we exit the store and return to our bikes. They tell me they are out of Kentucky and headed for Springfield, Missouri. Our conversation is brief, but pleasant all the same.

By lunchtime the sky has become overcast and I’ve run into two more construction zones. It’s Sunday so there aren’t any workers out, and traffic is still light so getting through these zones is fairly quick. The clouds fill the sky completely but they are bright, I might get a sprinkle, maybe a light rain but nothing warranting a stop to put on my rain gear.

As it’s lunchtime, I decide to exit the highway at the next town I approach and find a place to eat. This town is Marion, Illinois. I felt this fitting since I slept in Marion, Arkansas last night. A quick stop at the first gas station I find to search for a good place to eat. I find a place called Pookie’s that offers beer, burgers and bocce. They had me at beer and burgers, well really at beer, but bocce too? Gotta check them out. It’s a really neat place. Just a few tables and feels more like a bar then a restaurant. May have been more tables elsewhere but I didn’t explore. They do have multiple bocce ball courts which is a first for me. I’ve seen pool tables, darts and shuffle board but never bocce ball.

I did not partake in any bocce and though I entered the front door intent on a burger, I did not have that as well. I did of course have the beer. Lunch was their hot Italian sandwich which was absolutely heavenly. It’s a simple sandwich, thick sliced ham, mozzarella, lettuce and Italian dressing on an ever so soft hoagie roll. By far one of the best sandwiches I’ve had, I may have been ravenously hungry though, not sure really. But good all the same.

Leaving lunch the cloud cover has broken up. It got a good bit cooler under the overcast skies, but the sky is mostly blue again and the heat has returned. I’m just a couple hours out from my destination for today, the second of only three determined destinations on this trip. The miles fly by and massive fields of corn and soybeans soon take over the landscape. I finally pull into the driveway of my cousin’s home and am greeted almost immediately. I spend the evening with his sister, him and his wife, their kids and significant others, and the wife’s parents. It’s a wonderful evening. I’ve not seen any of them for a few years now. We spend time catching up and I’m asked all kinds of questions about the trip, which I love being asked.

But as the sun fades and night takes hold of the sky, the family begins to depart. I’m left with just my cousin and his wife. Before long we all decide to turn in. I get me a real shower and I have a real bed that I’m kind of aching to jump into. Tomorrow the real adventure starts. I’m headed into Chicago and starting my run on the mother road.

It’s going to be epic.