Farmington to Chester, IL, July 27

We had a shorter day planned so we didn't leave right at the break of day like we have been doing. Plus we had a veritable luxury apartment at out disposal so we sat around a bit, drank coffee and watched the local news before leaving at 7 a.m.

The ride out of Farmington had some hills, but I've become so desensitized to them that it seemed like a pretty easy ride. I had to stand up and pedal a couple of times, but you can see the tops of these hills and you usually get a nice downhill ride.

We crossed the Mississippi River and then stopped in Chester where we're staying in a tiny bicyclist bunkhouse behind the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Its key feature is an air conditioner since although it is slightly cooler than it has been, that is highly relative: the afternoon temperatures are still in the upper 90s.

We plan to start early tomorrow and see how far we get. Maybe we'll make it to Eddyville, which is 90 miles away. The first 30 miles tomorrow will be along the river, which should be nice.