The Traveleers left Iroquois, Illinois and peddled to Monon, Indiana, roughly 60 miles. They had dinner and then put in another 5 miles to an RV park called Trasher Woods campground. Monon must be a real party town because when they arrived at the campground, there was a huge party happening, hosted by the owners, a wonderful couple who invited them to the festivities. Leah said they had a blast. And were well taken care of by their new friends. It is indeed extraordinary that people have been so open and hospitable through out the trip.
Next day they put in another 70 miles, but Leah wasn't clear about where they stayed. Somewhere between Monon and Monroeville. Could be Royal Center, or perhaps Denver or any of a dozen places. In Monroeville they hooked up with Matt who had ridden West from Cleveland to meet them, so now the team consists of three. In Monroeville, they stayed at a free shelter especially for bikers doing the Trans America route.
They are happy to have Matt on the team. Leah says he's enthusiastic and fast. In fact today they put in another 60 plus miles clear to McComb Ohio, chalking up their 9th state. They are camping at the city park at a beautiful lake tonight. When they hit these small towns, they get permission from the local police to sleep at the park. The cops were really nice about it and gave em a tour of the town and unlocked the restrooms for them. In fact. the mayor took em to the local VFW (picture attached) where they fed em dinner and then breakfast the next AM. The people of these small towns are quite wonderful and have been really hospitable to Leah and Chuck. When you've been on the road and enter a town as a stranger it is truly delightful to be made to feel welcome, and these folks have put out the welcome mat and a fine feed bag to boot and the Traveleers really appreciate it.
UPDATE: Road Kill Report
Bikers have a unique opportunity to witness firsthand and close-up road kill that many drivers miss and therefore bikers can make informed observations. Leah says that the road kill in the central states is quite different than that of the Western states. In Idaho and Montana the road kill consisted mainly of deer and coyotes and has a very high stink quotient possibly 7.5-8.6. Whereas in Nebraska, Iowa and Indiana, the road kill is mainly raccoons and opossum. While the smaller roadkill is far more abundant, it has a much lower stink quotient, possibly 3 - 7.2 depending on the length of time on the road.
Leah added that road kill is really unpleasant but by far the most horrible smell of all are chicken farms topping the stink quotient scale. In fact, she passed by a chicken farm the other day and swore off eggs for life. That is, until breakfast the next morning.
Stevie Roman
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