Flat doesn't always mean better. This was the lesson learned today. I left Chester early and enjoyed a bit more of Popeye before exiting town.
I quickly began my ride in the flat, desolate farm land of IL. After several hours I was ready for a snack break but there were no country stores in sight. As it got warm I was ready for a cold drink but there were no country stores in sight.
After another hour of frustration I finally eyeballed a country store and made my way to it, what a relief! I continued down River in the same environment so when I came across a small diner around lunch time, I stopped! It was awesome, the highlight of the day so far.
I was suppose to stay in IL and make my way to a campground, I chose to cross over the MR into Cape Girardeau. I love bridges and crossing over rivers. This was a great bridge! I got into CG and could not find the Starbucks so I decided just to grab a quick snack and continue on. Of course I now had to find a new stopping point.
I couldn't find any campgrounds or hotels so I stopped at a convenience store that had a large patch of land that was becoming home to gazebos for an upcoming Flea Market. I went in and asked if it was ok for me to camp and they said yes.
There was a place to clean up and there was a diner. I cleaned up and then enjoyed a delicious dinner. A good finish to a frustrating day. I settled in for the night and slept well.
