Oregon, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, etc

[pdedse]

You are so lucky to still have your mom and that she is sharp and livly. Lost my mom in 1986. Miss her every day. She has missed so much in my life. She is the one who convinced me to get back on a motorcycle after a bad wreck in 1968. Said I would regret it if I didn't ride again. She was so wise.

I can't imagine not having my mom around since 1986, sorry for that Ferret, but good mom yours! I know when my mom says something like "I wish I had..." I listen closely.

Wonderful story and write up and a lovely family also. You are a blessed man.

Thanks Redbirds, I am blessed. I have seven older sibs and all of us get along, all of us would help the other at the drop of a hat. We all have our professions, but mom would be most proud of the former.

pdedse, try the link again. I've trie to incorporate the changes; however, some of it may be foiled by Google Maps which sometimes has a mind of its own. Short of redrawing it all, I think I've done what I can. I had real trouble between Sweet Home and Corvalis where Google would not let me send you where I thought you went.

It was a mighty ride.

No worries, Cormanus, it was a treat for me to see my trip outlined like you did. It was very close the way you had it. Thanks again!
After a week with my mom, two sisters and brother, several home remod jobs, day outings here and there, it was time to head out. My destination leaving Champaign was Springfield, MO. I intended heading south on 57 and cross the Mississippi near Cape Girardeau and then explore some of the forested areas east of Springfield, but when I started doing the math, that was going to be one long day and my brother had limited time to see me that evening. So I took the most direct route I could while still avoiding St. Louis. Just didn't feel like riding thru big cities on the trip. So I headed west by southwest all day against a strong headwind, the first I encountered on the trip. I started out on 72 west and after Jacksonville, headed south and west on 54 towards the big river


This was a tough riding day. Quite hot and humid, I was taking one route when I really wanted to go another, and the headwind would not relent. I'm fairly tall at 6'4" and windshields always seem to just push the wind right smack into my forehead and my head gets buffeted, not fun. So when the wind blows, it takes me a while to grow used to it. By afternoon I was fine, and I had an awesome dinner with brother, but by next morning I had to pull out because he had some pressing work to do.

I didn't take many pics this day, but there was one funny thing that happened. I'm quite careful to follow a routine at the gas stations because I've learned from other trips that it's easy to forget something. Well, I pay for gas w/ card, check phone for maps and upcoming route. Then I get receipt from the pump and I'm on my way. The last thing I do is check my chest pocket of mc jacket for phone and billfold. This time, I didn't. I rode 2 miles down the road at 35-40mph and was just accelerating up the on-ramp to hiway, when I checked for my phone and wallet...and-it-was-not-there!!!!. My very first reaction was "my daughter is going to kill me because I'm always getting on her about not losing her phone"...my second was, no $ and no phone...not good...by the third second I looked back at my saddlebags and there they both were, just resting on top of the saddle bag, hadn't moved at all after 2 miles of riding. Ok...good...no harm done. Phew!

Day 7: Champaign, Ill to Springfield, MO: 442 miles