Streator, IL to Iroquois, IL 103 miles.

Well, I didn't make it to Rensselaer, but I did make it to Iroquois, IL. This is about the friendliest-to-bike-passers-through town I've been in.

The Adventure Cycling maps I'm using said I could camp in the park, but to call the mayor. I tried, but my cell phone wasn't working in that area, so I just went to the Iroquois Cafe and had a few beers. The bartender was very busy as she was both tending bar and handling 5 full tables without a cook, so I didn't get a lot of info out of her. I left the bar and was going to pitch my tent in the park, but first I stopped at the local store. The clerk asked me if I was staying in the park and if someone had opened the shower room for me. "Well, no — I tried to call the number, but couldn't." So he called Dennis, the shower contact. And when his phone didn't answer, he called Dennis' father with the same results, and then Dennis' son, and again no answer. I was resigned to sleeping in the park with just a quick, cold wash off.

I started to leave and asked the clerk where the Post Office was and what time it opened. He said it was a block away, but that he didn't know when it opened. So, I went back to the bar and got my bike and didn't walk five steps when the guy in the house next to the bar asked me if I was staying in the park and whether I would like the showers opened. "Sure. That'd be great." Turns out the "Dennises" were out of town and Gary was taking care of the park duties for them.

It also turns out that the shower is actually in a little building, half of which is a garage, and the other half a conference room/office. Gary said I could just stay in there if I wanted, which of course I did since it was still 90 at 8:30 PM and the conference room had an air conditioner. (I'm getting so spoiled with all the cool air nights.)

I took a shower, made some phone calls, and headed back to the bar. It was empty, save the bartender. I had another beer or two and we chatted about all the cyclists that come through that town (thanks to Adv. Cycling's maps), my bike trip and her kayaking/canoeing. I went back to the bed with a little buzz, but I had a great rest and decided not to start too early on Day 38 as I wanted to get some postcards mailed and rest my legs a bit.

In the morning, I had breakfast at the Iroquois which serves as the both the local breakfast, lunch and dinner place, and the bar. I made a quick run to Sheldon where the bartender assured me I could get Illinois postcards (I had been looking for them all the previous day and even took an 8 mile detour. It seems tourism is not a big deal in East Central IL).

And then I saw Gary again, and asked him if the way I was going into Indiana had a "Welcome to Indiana" sign. He didn't think so, but that if I went south back to Sheldon and took US 24, there was one there. I head back to Sheldon and east on 24 with a wonderful 15 mph tailwind coming directly out of the west. While there wasn't any sign save for a little "Entering this county, leaving Illinois", the road was so good and I was going so fast that I decided to stay on the route and head straight for Fort Wayne/Monroeville on this road.

While the shoulders have narrowed from 3 to 2 to .5 ft, I'm still making good time and hope to cut a big chunk out of Indiana today. More later.