Effingham to Vandalia, Il

I requested a day off! Yesterday we rode a difficult 36 miles to Vandalia. We dodged most of the rain but not the fiece headwinds. On the flats yesterday on the famed route 40. We struggled to stay at 9-10mph through the majority of this ride. I got to the place where I couldn't take another day on my bicycle seat. Thoughts danced around in my head that I might have to go home. I hope that I'll be a lot better tomorrow though. I got some second skin type bandage. Time will tell.

We three stopped in Altwell for our 2nd breakfast yesterday morning. Attached is a picture of this non descript place. But inside I was served either the first or second best breakfast on the trip  We stopped in the town Altmont and most passersby would think that this place was closed along with all the others. A long train went right past the open door as we were dining. The wind owned the day after that. Head down pedal hard make slow progress. Tried to find songs to sing along the way.

We ended up at a cool AirB&B right across from the historic state house at the one time terminus of the famous National Road. In the 1830s Vandalia, Il was the State Capital of Illinois. The broad boulevard of Rte 40 is fascinating we saw pictures of it's opening in the late 1800s to fan fare of 10, 000 people. We are headed west tomorrow nearing the Mississippi

Also, interesting to see farm machinery on the main roads. This machine is in Vandalia.

River.