Day 25

Getting these guys out of bed is not getting any easier! Still while they were getting sorted I went to see the Fort Kaskaskia cemetery, a fascinating place. It had been moved from the city to the higher ground when it was realized that the city would be flooded by the change of course that the Mississippi made over a number of years in the late 1870s.

Angel and I rode out of the camp site while the others took the van into Chester. The camps site was on the West side of Chester so it was a 6 mile ride into the town. We past a great log house which was wood and plaster built and looked pretty authentic. Then into Chester and man anyone love Popeye, Bluto, and Olive Oyl and all the other characters? Well Chester is where they were all “born”. They were brought to life by E. C. Segar right here in Chester. There’s a small park that has been built, and it’s bounded on two sides by buildings with the characters painted onto the walls – Angel loved it, as did I. Obviously pictures were taken, then onwards on route 3.
Route 3 follows the mighty Mississippi for a long way and as we traveled along this route we could see the flooding that had occurred. In fact the water came right up to the road that we were on, and if it had not been for the fact that we were a little higher we’d have been under water too! Finally into a plain that was between us and the river on one side and on the other side rolling hills with masses of trees and small holdings.

Bang – damn puncture time AGAIN!!!! What’s going on, for three weeks we are fine then the three arrive on Saturday and leave on Tuesday, and we have 4 punctures and a spoke break. They leave and we think we are fine, but their mojo is still with us!! Now since they have left three punctures!! Please please no more! It’s my turn for the puncture, thankfully I was not in last place at the time! Jack goes by and I tell him, Raymond goes by and I tell him. Now I’m on my own pushing the bike along. I call Angel – guess what no reception! I txt him hoping that this might go through, we’ll see. Keep pushing the bike, with cars pick-ups, trucks going by, After what seemed like an eternity Andriy arrives in the van and in I get to laughter, which is not appreciated!

Raymond and Jack are left to ride to the camp site, Murphysboro State Park. Another terrific State Park, next to a lake. We pick tent and drive into Murphysboro to get the puncture mended.
Pizza for dinner and we have decided to go to a movie, to relax. And that’s where we are right now, debating which movie to see!! Let you know tomorrow.

BP