Bikecentennial - Summer 1976 - Part 8

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Bikecentennial - Summer 1976

Missouri and Illinois

August 9 Edwards	I woke up in a terrible mood this morning. I didn't sleep well so I was burnt-out. The bike trip didn't seem to make sense. Now I'm feeling better. I just ate a late breakfast and soon I'll be on my way again. I had to walk up my first hill this morning. It was an easy 10 percent if not 12. I've biked shorter ones that steep but this was too much. Highway 7 has got the hills, but the roads are in excellent shape and the traffic ain't bad.... Missouri seems to be a state of 80 mile days. No matter what I do that's how far I go....
August 10 Roby	This morning I got off fairly early and I've gone about 30 miles already, most of it through Clark National Forest. It was real nice, just me and my bike; the road, the trees and the sky overhead.
August 11 Johnson Shut-Ins (Late Entry)	...Now up until that afternoon I hadn't seen any other bikers. Then I came around a corner and I could see a biker about a mile off...it was Cindy, and Amy was right in front of her.... That night we stayed at Johnson Shut-Ins. We swam in some real neat rock pools and falls on the Black River.
August 12 Ellis Grove (Late Entry)	The next day we boogied, with the addition of Al, to St. Genevieve and over the Mississippi [by ferry]...the combination of being back in Illinois, talking to my parents and enjoying a thunder storm was enough to make me real high. I buzzed up to the park in a gail. There were a lot of bikers there. The view was terrific of the Mississippi (strangely resembling the view from Pike's Peak Iowa).
August 13 Murphysboro (Late Entry)	...all of a sudden there was this sign: "Welcome Richard"... I hadn't seen Gary for over a year so it was great to see him again... We spent the rest of the day talking, going into Carbondale, and repairing bikes with Cindy, Amy and Al (all of whom saw the sign and stopped in)...
August 15 Old Shawnee Town	The next day...Gary and I went out after lunch for a hike. He took me to a place they call Panther's Den.... Today I left late and came to the Illinois / Kentucy border. Tomorrow I'm off into bluegrass country.
Copyright 1976 & 2002 by Richard Rathe

Part 8

Alley Spring, MO

Biker Watering Hole

Mississippi River

Gary Decker in
Southern Illinois

Panther's Den