Day 2 - Stephanie

Rain Man says our mileage today was only 282 and time on the bikes was 6 hours 28 minutes.  Day 3 we are heading to the mountains (YAY!!) and I'm sure we'll make up for lost mileage and time.  The high temperature reading on our bikes today was only 95 degrees, so at least we are heading in the right direction.  Come on 60's and 70's - I'm ready to throw up the tent and roll out my sleeping bag!

Today it was nothing to roll by 15-20 miles of nothing but corn an soybean fields.  Zzzzzzz.......... And flat.  Boring.  The highlight of IL was a round barn in Roseville, IL. 

Once into Iowa we followed the Mississippi River up to St. Claire and visited the American Picker's store - Antique Archeology.  Saw a lot of the items the "picked" on episodes of their show and was hoping to see Frank, Mike, and Danielle but was told Danielle now lives in Chicago and shows up for tapings, and Mike and Frank are always on the road and are only at the store for tapings.  Bummer. 

I have to say, the Mississippi River is beautiful up here.  Nothing like what I've seen down around home and down in New Orleans.  Not muddy but clear and clean looking.  And the locals know how to utilize it - boats galore!

We've been on old Route 66 a lot of this journey, and starting Day 3 will be traveling the Lincoln Highway across Iowa.  From what I understand Route 66 and the Lincoln Highway (30) competed against each other for westward travelers.

Today's highlight for me was a marsh we found after crossing into Iowa just off the Mississippi River.  Nice to see water and birds again.  Next time I'll use my tripod for the birds so their pics turn out a little better.

Well, the restaurant is closing, time to finish up my raspberry margarita and walk across the street to our room.  Night all and until tomorrow!