Mississippi

After three hard days and with 100+ miles to cycle tomorrow,we needed a relaxed cycle today,and most of us had just that.Elizabeth and I started our day with a mini disaster,we awoke looked at the bedside clock-03.15,back to sleep.Up when the clock said 05.00 and got ourselves ready and packed.Then I looked at my watch and it was 06.50,the bedside clock was an hour out! Rushed the bikes downstairs to find that, as it was sunday,breakfast did not start until 07.00.Perfect timing,and an hours extra sleep.
 Off at 07.30 with Hienz,the three of us rolled along at a good pace,gentle hills and quite a bit of flat.Time to take in the scenery,horse and water this time.Also passed the very first sheep that we have seen whilst in the USA-I assumed that you would know what they look like,so did not stop for a photo.Although I liked this sign,shows you that they do not think much of lamb.

The rest stop came after 32 miles and at this point we officially celebrated passing the 2000 miles.Hienz with us in the photo.

Then a long rolling,gently,section down towards the Mississippi river,we saw Rik in the carpark of a garage so stopped to fill our water bottles.Hienz was a liitle behind at this time,so we waved to him,but he sped past.After filling our bottles we popped into the store and ate a cheese burger and ice cream each,filled up on coke,and noticed this 't'shirt in the shop,thought I could use the sentiment soon.

We then cycled along a good shoulder to the river.Normally there is a bridge for each direction of traffic,but our bridge had failed in the flood.

So we all had to use the newer bridge

At the end of the bridge two ladies welcomed Crossroads riders to Illinois and directed us to the appropriate sign,which was at the end of the broken bridge.Turned out that they were Peyton's mother and twin sister,who met formally once we reached the hotel.

Having crossed the bridge we cycled along an amazing road lined with magnificent houses on both sides,but the road had an awful surface.

Finally we arrived at the hotel to find no rooms were ready.Again we had the annoying sight of people walking in and getting a room straight away whilst we waited.Cyclists just are not popular.Elizabeth and I had been there for an hour and a half,when at last Heinz arrived,looking shattered.He had missed a turning and cycled an extra 20 miles.We had water on hand to give him and then I took him into the bar for a coke,as his English is very limited.He looked recovered at dinner.

2060 miles completed ,65378 ft climbed,two days to the next rest day!