we ventured out and crossed the Mississippi River at Muscatine, Iowa, entering Illinois, the Land of Lincoln. Our initial reactions to Illinois were mediocre at best, but it grew on us as the day progressed. We discovered a surprising number of early climbs on rolling hills, 
with plenty of attractive farmland soon facing us. We found that the people have not been as friendly as in other states and that the roads we used were often shoulderless.
We also found ourselves facing another uncharacteristic headwind as we pedaled east. The weather was very hot and humid, but it did lead to a wonderful sunset.
Finishing the day after dark with 90 miles under our belt was therefore an accomplishment that satisfied us. With today’s mileage, we have now biked over 2,000 cumulative miles on a coast-to-coast adventure. For more information on our daily and cumulative mileage, click on the link for the trip log, located to the right.
