We had a nice cool morning, with sun and an easterly headwind, so we took our time for some photos and video.
Ate a snack at 10 a.m. on the shore of the Mississippi in Dallas City, with a great view and sunshine, then back out onto farmland plains.
Headwind changed to crosswind as we headed north, so the riding was a bit slower at 9 mph, but scenery and temperature was pleasant.
Got groceries and an ice cream cone in Oquawka to combat afternoon sun, and then took an extra 6 miles north to get campground with showers.
Campground comes with a bonus of swarms of gnats, due to being in a pine forest right next to a back channel of the river. This looks nice, but is good for little else if you are human.
So I am managing to both one finger type this message on my phone, and brush gnats from my face and hair at the same time. Another new skill learned on this trip, along with sweating profusely and getting up at 5:45 a.m. to beat the heat.
Still, it beats whatever else I would have been doing at home instead. I’m hooked on rolling down the road in the morning with the sun shallow and new horizons ahead.
