Day 34!

Coal City, IL to Valparaiso, IN - 87.1 miles, 6:26

It was a cool and sticky morning when we got up. Everything in my tent was a little moist, and my tent was wet, but I still had to pack it all up. I had my usual bowls of oatmeal and cereal, and then it was on the road . . . for the seventh day in a row!

Not far from the campground we passed a reindeer farm. Santa must have his summer home in Illinois. Prancer was aptly named. Reindeer really do prance when they run.
How can you pass a place like the Launching Pad Drive-In and not take a picture of the Gemini Giant? Classic Americana!
Bike for Sale. Used. High mileage. Will consider all offers. (The sign had said "Bikes for Sale," but Rosie took the "s" off so that we could have fun with it. Big Riders are easily amused.)
What kind of cheapskate state have we come to? Where's the Welcome to Indiana sign? The Big Ride support staffers had to paint a sign for us in the road. Barb and I are at the Indiana/Illinois state "line."
At our lunch stop (well, it would've been a lunch stop for me, but I wanted REAL food, so I skipped the ubiquitous PB&J) Bob was "sharing" a pastry with Barb. Later Barb and I found a Subway next door to a Dairy Queen. Heaven! We had a lunch with all the favorite food groups of Big Riders: chips, cold pop, and ice cream. Oh yeah . . . there was a sub sandwich in there as an appetizer.
The section of Indiana that we rode through today was really nice (road surfaces excluded). It was sort of rural/suburban with large houses, nice neighborhoods, lots of trees, and some touristy lakes. This is Cedar Lake.

As pretty as it was, though, Indiana has to have the label of "Land of Bad Roads." This was the bumpiest ride I've ever been on. Kevin, from Indiana, claims no responsibility. "I pay my taxes," he says.

For a ride of over 80 miles, this was pretty easy (besides the rough roads, of course). It was mostly flat, the weather wasn't too hot, and I discovered that the State Roadkill of Indiana is the raccoon.

We're staying in a dorm at Valparaiso University, and it's wonderful. Who knew that a twin bed, a real pillow, a real towel, and dorm food could be so desirable?
Tomorrow is a badly needed rest day! Woo hoo!!