Ohio River Ride 2019

We left Anna early and enjoyed cool temperatures as we cycled back to Mom’s Restaurant in Jonesboro .  Mom was glad to see us again and shared the latest road closures and prepared a good breakfast.  Before leaving “Mom” made sure that we had adequate water, admonished us to be safe, but didn’t give us a goodbye hug.  Come on, that’s what moms are for.  (Mom, when you read this, Thanks for the great hospitality.) Temperatures stayed cool for several hours and we cycled low traffic roads thru state and federal forests.   As it warmed up, we were back on the highways heading north with a headwind that helped diminish the effects of the heat.   We went along roads that had flooded fields on both sides, saw many closed side roads, and were thankful we hadn’t been here a few weeks earlier. We had no traffic until we got to within 15 miles of Chester .   Then:   (1) we encountered a stream of tractor trailer trucks hauling gravel to a barge lo...

We have been following a much studied and well planned agenda.  However, today those plans were upended.  Leaving our hotel we noticed that a lot of the fields next to the roads were flooded but we were oblivious to its consequences.  We were heading to the bridge that would take us over the Mississippi River into Missouri .  The first road west was closed and so was the second.  Perplexed, we asked a stopped motorist for information.  She told us that this part of Illinois has been flooded for most of the summer and that access to the bridge has been closed for a month.   The only options were to travel either 50 miles north or south to take alternative bridges. Sounds just like something a cyclist would love to do.  Since we were heading north anyway we stayed in Illinois and headed to Anna, where motels were to be found.  Now we need to figure out a new route to get to Chester Illinois , our next stop.  We were told that so...

Just when you got tired of hearing about our cycling miles in the heat, we have a new sad story to tell.  Today’s 60 miles brought us to our hotel, which was next to a “restaurant”.  However, the restaurant has been closed for a while and the next closest one is 8 miles away.  The “sympathetic” hotel clerk suggested that we walk across the highway to a Dollar General and get a supper that we could cook in the room’s microwave.   After a long look at all the “great” options we settled on chicken pies, fruit cups, cookies, and chocolate.  It is hard to believe that we look forward to tomorrow’s hotel breakfast.  Please send your prayers this way.  Luckily, tomorrow is a short day and we can scout out some real food on our way to a first class hotel, located next to several restaurants. Pictures Map Map Of Trip Todate

Today was our longest cycling day with the need to cover 80 miles.  To keep from being overwhelming we played a mind game. At our breakfast stop 25 miles into our ride we recalculated and said that we only had a 55 mile day. We did that several times and it was working until we got to the final 10 miles.  We were beat and had to cycle 8 miles of long rollers in the heat of the day. The last 2 miles were down hill but provided no real relief.   After we crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to Illinois , we stopped in Old Shawneetrown, the oldest town in Illinois . There we got to see a stately old bank building, but not much else.   Because of flooding the town moved 3 miles further from the river.   We did stop at a maintenance shop where they gladly provided us extra water bottles for the remainder of our ride. Today's bright spot was a lunch place called Garden of the Gods Outpost.   We found it after giving up on our planned route which tu...

The scenery leaving Lewisport, KY was similar to what we saw yesterday, corn and soybean fields.  Today we added tobacco to our recognizable farm plants.  We cycled deserted roads until we got near Owensboro, KY, a large city with colorful sites.  It is the fourth-largest city in the state by population. The first European descendant to settle in Owensboro was frontiersman William Smeathers or Smothers in 1797, for whom the riverfront park is named. The settlement was originally known as "Yellow Banks" from the color of the land beside the Ohio River. The Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered at what is today's Owensboro prior to departing on their famous travels. In 1817, Yellow Banks was formally established under the name Owensboro, named after Col. Abraham Owen. We stopped at a “hippy” café for breakfast and then moved to Smothers Park were we watched children play in the fountains and took pictures of artwork.  Next to the park was the International Blue Grass M...

We started out in first light this morning but the fog was so thick that we could not see much.  Other senses took over and the unseen became heard--birds chirping, cows mooing, donkeys baying, woodpeckers tapping, dogs barking, and horse hoofs clopping up the hill faster than we pedaled our bikes.  The first 20 miles we climbed had a lot of small hills and enjoyed several fast (but not long enough) down hills.  We stopped at an old house that was being renovated and learned about Joseph Holt who lived there.  He was a leading member of the Buchanan administration, where he succeeded in convincing Buchanan to oppose the secession of the South. He returned to Kentucky and successfully battled the secessionist element thereby helping to keep Kentucky in the Union . President Abraham Lincoln appointed him the Judge Advocate General of the United States Army. He served as Lincoln 's chief arbiter and enforcer of military law, and supporter of emancipati...