From Franklin, IN we rode northwest to Route 40, which meanders for several hundred miles between Indianapolis and St. Louis. Normally we shy away from larger roads, but Route 40 has wide shoulders and sees very little traffic. Most motorists favoring the higher speed limits and smoother pavement of Interstate 70.
The photos and stories in this post are from the small cities and towns along Route 40 in Western Indiana and Illinois.
After saying goodbye to Paul’s friend, Dustin, in Franklin, IN we rode about 50 miles northwest to the small town of Stilesville, where we found a place to pitch our tent next to a farmer’s plot of soy beans.
Our steel steeds parked next to a John Deere tractor at our campsite outside Stilesville, IN.
Our campsite outside Stilesville, IN was flanked by a 55 acre plot of soybeans.
Soybeans.
Sunrise at our campsite outside Stilesville, IN
A breakfast of ramen noodles at our campsite outside Stilesville, IN
We did deviate from Route 40 in order to ride a bike path through Terre Haute, IN.
We crossed the Indiana-Illinois border late in the day and found ourselves looking for a place to pitch our tent in the small town of Marshall, IL. A county police officer gave us permission to camp near a storage shed behind his church.
Grain silos along Route 40 in Illinois.
A covered bridge over the Embarras [sic] River in south-central Illinois.
While we were enjoying a pint of Ben and Jerry’s outside a supermarket in Effingham, IL, we were approached by a very friendly and outgoing local, Mike. He chatted with us about our trip for a few minutes and then went on his way. A few minutes later he returned and handed us a $25 gift certificate before driving off again. We were both very pleased to meet Mike and experience such a random act of generosity. When he returned a second time and invited us to spend the night at his home outside of town we quickly accepted. When we arrived at his home we had the pleasure to meet his wife, Star, and their very energetic little Dachshund.
After we arrived at his home, Mike baked us a very delicious, earthy, and wholesome bread/cake/energy bar/pastry thing. We were grateful we had the leftovers the following day when we pulled off under an overpass for a snack break.
Oh, yeah…and he made us apple-cinnamon waffles, too.
Eyna and Mike prepping the waffle batter.
Enjoying the evening in Mike and Star’s lovely home outside Effingham, IL.
Mike and Star have a lot of interesting projects around their home. The day we arrived they were canning tomatoes from their organic garden.
Recently canned organic tomatoes from Mike and Star’s garden.
Mike and The Hound.
The Hound
The Hound
Star’s mother has attracted swarms of hummingbirds to her home by lining her front porch with hummingbird feeders. She only lives a few doors away from Mike and Star, so we all made the short trip see and photograph the feeding frenzy.
Never has a fierce battle been so cute.
Even with a shutter speed of 1/1,000th of a second, their wings are still a bit blurred.
Looking over the buffet…
A hummingbird nest that fell out of a nearby tree…
Mother of Hummingbirds.
Mike, Star, and the Mother of Hummingbirds
Our last nights in Illinois were spent in a very peaceful and comfortable apartment that was lent to us by two very generous warmshowers.org hosts, Fred and Patti. Fred and Patti were actually out of town during our stay, but they left us a key so we could let ourselves in. We have been on the receiving end of many kind and generous acts during this trip…
Eyna cooking up another tasty dinner at Fred and Patti’s guest apartment.
The well landscaped and manicured view from our very comfortable home away from home. Many thanks to Fred and Patti!
The well landscaped and manicured view from our very comfortable home away from home. Many thanks to Fred and Patti!
Statistics:
August 15: Franklin, IN to Stilesville, IN, 39.25 miles in 4 hours and 21 minutes
August 16: Stilesville, IN to Marshall, IL, 63.83 miles in 6 hours and 28 minutes
August 17: Marshall, IL to Effingham, IL, 59.9 miles in 5 hours and 40 minutes
August 18: Effingham, IL to Vandalia, IL, 41.86 miles in 4 hours and 19 minutes
August 19: Vandalia, IL to St. Jacob’s, IL, 46.78 miles in 4 hours and 51 minutes
Total miles: 251.62 miles
Kanes On Bikes 