Land of Lincoln

Land of Lincoln

Tuesday 10^th June, 2019

Day 31

Location: Springfield to Champagne, IL

Distance: 89 miles.

Temp: 56 – 82 F sunny

Dew point:  51 F

    Winds:  non-issue

 

Cumulative climbing distance:  1,594 ft

Cumulative descending distance:  1,303 ft

 

 

We are in corn country.  Central to eastern Illinois is a land of huge farms.  Primary crop is corn with some soybeans.  Today is the first time I saw no farm animals.  Strange to see beautiful farms settings with no live stock.  Even stranger to see a high percentage of former family farmsteads with no house, just the barn and other out buildings due to farm consolidation.

 

Planting is weeks behind normal due to the rainy May.  Fields are either just being planted or corn, at best, 6 – 12 inches high.  Normally should be >2 ft by this time.

My cousin Lester LaRoche and his wife, Robin, drove down from Minneapolis today to spend tonight and tomorrow, our rest day, with us.

Springfield is the state capital and location of the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.

Had hope to visit the museum but due to the fast-paced schedule of our bike trip there was no time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Typical huge corn fields.

 

 I heard this tractor coming behind me and just as I moved until the grass, the school passed the tractor.  Note the tractor size.

 

 

 

 Beautiful farm settings with no house or animals.

Had dinner with Les and Robin at upscale restaurant.  First meal of this type in 3 weeks.