Days 32-33: Going Solo

Day 32: West Lafayette, IN to Gilman, IL
Daily miles: 73
Miles to date: 1,299

Day 33: Gilman, IL to Washington, IL
Daily miles: 77
Miles to date: 1,376

Big day. I split off from Julie and Daniel in Kentfield, made a left turn and headed for the Illinois border. I stopped for lunch in Sheldon, the first town I came to after I crossed the state line and was immediately confronted with a conundrum: I will be rolling into places alone, how do I handle questions about my journey?

As excited as I am about what I'm doing, I also enjoy safety. So when the guys at Rosie's Fine Foods & Spirits (a high-falootin' name for a chicken joint that serves its food in paper-lined baskets) asked where I was riding from, I only told them half the truth.

"Oh, I'm coming from West Lafayette." [Truth]

"I'm practicing for a cross-country trip at the end of the summer." [Lie] "My friend is going to come pick me up when I get tired." [Lie]

I don't think I was fooling anyone, but they were benevolent as I knew deep down, despite my semi-rational standoffishness.

Nevertheless, my route across Illinois is basically flat and straight, save two bends to cross over some train tracks and under an Interstate. I am mostly proud of my mileage on these days, the forgiving terrain notwithstanding.