Day 33 Decatur Indiana to Lima Ohio.

 What a difference 2 fully inflated tires and 10 hours of sleep can make for a 54 mile ride into Ohio.  The absence of wind mills can hopefully decrease the chances of head winds.  Today proved that correctly. 4 days traveling eastward into Pennsylvania and a 3 day blitz on the great Allegheny passage will drop me in Cumberland Maryland to rest up for the Anchor House Foundation Ride. 

Day 32 Peru to Decatur Indiana.

 Another 75 miles of mild but steady head winds. I sure do miss North Dakota and Montana. The tube that I replaced yesterday sprung a slow leak of which I chose to just refill every 10 miles instead of changing. This also added to the fun. Shorter days to follow and hopefully less winds. 

Long horns 

View from motel 

Lumber drying. 

Day 31 Watseka Illinois to Peru Indiana.

Welcome sign.
 92 miles of humidity, a steady rain shower and headwind. Don't let me forget a flat tire. I was not expecting such a challenging day of riding. The big difference behind the dismal day had to be the head winds. 

Day 30 Streator to Watseka Illinois

 85 miles of a near identical ride as yesterday.  Nothing much different to see or report on. Straight, flat country roads lined with corn fields, wheat fields, barley and soy. Tomorrow is Indiana and eastern time zone. 

Another dilapidated barn.

Welcome to Watseka 

Day 29 Kawanee to Streator Illinois

 Shorter day of 70 miles as I enter the last 10 days of cycling before meeting up with my fellow Anchor House riders. Prior to the Anchor House ride I will have a 5 day rest up period with Linda joining me in Cumberland Maryland. The route today was not only flat but straight as well. A little up and down would be welcomed. 

Windmills were turning today 

Amber waves of grain 

Day 28 Muscatine Iowa to Kewanee Illinois

 Quick stop in Iowa, crossing the Mississippi one last time as I begin to head east. First state is Illinois. Not a big difference from Iowa.  Corn fields and flat, flat, flat. Darn near boring flat as the woman at the convenience store proclaimed. And no more long days as the temperatures rise and the winds subside. 

Morning clouds 

No wind. 

Heading east and the final push. 

Day 27 Dyersville to Muscatine Iowa

 99.75 miles of manageable rolling country roads. First stop, Field of Dreams movie set. I arrived even before it officially opened to snap a couple of photos. Met a father and son who were cycling around the country visiting 30 major league games to raise money for St. Jude hospital.