illinois

It seems some time has passed since we had internet access. No worries though, we’ve got plenty of loco to share with you since our last update. We believe the last time we left you we were somewhere around North Vernon, Indiana in a nice little Comfort Inn. Since then we have been gifted with a bounty of steaks, shelter and nalgene bottles, rejected by a priest and his slightly less than hospitable congregation, braved a field of poison ivy and subsequent dish soap bath, camped across from a state correctional facility, and have fought the most mentally trying element known to bikers.

The first day of riding after North Vernon was relatively uneventful until we stopped just outside a town called Bedford at a gas station to fill up our waters and take a ten minute breather. It was an ordinary pit stop until a man approached Ryan and struck up a conversation. The golden boy put on his best face and let that silver tongue of his go to work, and before we knew it, Ryan had scored us four steaks, baked potatoes, and warm bread. He told Ryan that he had been at a church event, passed us biking on the road and wanted to bless us. We gratefully accepted the dinner and got ready to press on and find a camp site for the night. However, before we could leave another couple approached Team LOCO; their names were Fabien and Jeanine and after another short conversation they offered their storage garage up for shelter and a place to camp for the night. Their garage was about eight miles up the road in the outskirts of Bedford and when we arrived there was more awaiting us than just shelter. Jeanine and Fabien had driven ahead of us, purchased food, water, and even three Nalgene bottles as well as some other camping supplies. If that wasn’t enough, later their son and his girlfriend stopped by with more food and more snacks! And so the evening was spent eating steak dinners, enjoying iced waters, and sleeping in a shelter other than our tent, overall it was a victory for team LOCO!

The next day was spent riding through the rolling hills of south western Indiana, which were actually the largest inclines we have seen since West Virginia. Later that night we were running out of daylight and in need of a place to camp when we came upon a church letting out of their evening service. Ryan was excited to tell the pastor of his trip and was hoping that he would let the Team camp out behind the Church. However, the pastor was less than friendly and turned down Ryan’s request with haste and cruelty. Ryan’s first reaction was to tell the man that he had Faith with out deeds, but instead decided to hold his tongue and move on silently (apparently this pastor does not teach the good Samaritan story). Thankfully, we found a camp site off of the highway about a mile down the road and were able to set up their tent before the sun set for the evening.

The following morning we quickly passed the second Indiana border. As has become tradition, we crafted a new dance and another brief monologue, this time voiced by none other than golden boy himself.

Check out the video here:

http://good-times.webshots.com/video/3093850430101327493KcKoXf

Upon entering Illinois we bore witness to the fury of mothernature unlike anything we had ever really encountered. Sure we have complained and perhaps even exaggerated a bit about some of the elements we have faced thus far… but we can say to you now with absolute certainty we have encountered nothing as mentally wearing as the winds of Illinois.

Just before we crossed over the border we felt a gentle breeze on our brows. It wasn’t a bad thing seeing as the heat of Indiana was the primary force we reckoned with. But all too quickly that wind grew and grew until it was exerting more pressure on our legs than the vast majority of the hills we encountered in West Virginia. However, unlike the crests we topped in the Appalachian mountain range, wind has no definitive end. There is no way of gauging when you will get a break from this invisible blanket of pressure that slows you down. And it is at exactly this realization point that you feel the first ping of aggravation.

You find yourself traveling down a flat piece of highway. You see the road in front of you and are perfectly, completely aware that on any other day this piece of flat ground would yield a breakneck pace. The benefits of the newfound leg strength garnered from the conditioning trials of Appalachia have become wonderfully apparent and what better opportunity to make up for lost time than this pancake of earth which lies before you?

However, what lies ahead is not simply a clear pancake of earth. Hidden across its surface is an invisible barrier which instantly slows your pace from what you know should be about 20 mph to closer to 10. The first response to this is a mild sting of irritation. At first you think you can deal with it. Then an hour goes by… The irritation grows, and it grows, and it grows until it reaches the point of anger, then rage, then madness. All three of us have independently found ourselves screaming at the air as if it were a living conscious being that could appreciate the eloquent string of insults we throw at it. And on most occasions it seems as if the wind responds by blowing even harder at our tired bodies, and we are left to wonder if whether or not has actually heard us. At the end of the day we are left with the stark realization that it is only going to get worse as we pass from Illinois to Missouri, and then Kansas. Bring it on wind, you’re just another storm we’ll weather.

Aside from the wind we have also braved a few slightly less extended obstacles. Two days ago our evening ride was ended a bit short by a freak thunderstorm which came at us from the horizon in what seemed like less than a half hour. Before we knew it the sunlight was gone and we found ourselves scrambling to put together a campsite as soon as possible. The best location we could find under the circumstances was just beyond a small field. Without taking the time to examine it thoroughly we all rushed across and instantly found ourselves in the center of a mix of weeds and what else but countless poison leaves of poison ivy.

What followed was a hilarious scramble of tent pitching and a dish soap sponge bath as we frantically tried to wash off the blister causing oil which had saturated our arms and legs. Had anyone been there to witness this exercise in desperation amidst the heavy rains and soap bubbles its not likely we’d live it down any time soon. We’ve seen to it that this entry is the only evidence you’ll find. Oh yeah, and this entire scene took place in a vacant lot directly across from the biggest prison we’ve ever seen. Fun stuff.

Before we sign off here we’d like to say thank you to all the people who have shown us support along the way so far. We check the donation page and read your comments as often as we have internet access, and they serve as a constant inspiration and reminder of why we have done this trip in the first place. Thank you very, very much. We hope to hear more from all of you.
We should be in St Louis by the end of the day. The next scheduled stop is Jefforson City Missouri, then Wichita Kansas. We should be in Jefferson city within 4 days, and soon after passing Kansas’s borders.

Oh and one more thing, when we were passing through Salem Illinois this week we met a wonderful woman named Barb who worked at the Salem Inn. She was inspired by our trip and called the local newspaper. Here is a link that will take you to the article; scroll down until you see our picture. Enjoy!

http://wjbdradio.com/news_current.asp