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July 12, 2019—Chester, Illinois


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 loading site, (2) encountered hills, and (3) lost our wide shoulder.  Not fun but we are safe and appreciated all the courteous drivers that exhibited patients with us.  Near Chester, some of the road sections looked like they had been recently opened as debris was piled along the shoulders and mud remained on the road.  The trucks followed us into town because the truck bypass was still closed. 

Chester is the home of the creator of the cartoon Popeye and, in 2002, hosted us in our TransAm journey.  Then we camped in a park, cooked over a camp stove, and used a pit toilet.  Now, we are camped in an air-conditioned motel with hot showers.   



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