Greetings from Springfield, IL! So, as you may have noticed I took some time off from reporting to,
well, just ride and enjoy the last few days with friends & family in TN. This past weekend I put on
a new front tire, did an oil change and managed to rack up a few hundred miles with my guest from Phoenix. Bid
farewell and left TN today (Tues 15Aug06) to head back to the Valley of the Sun. So, at current I'm in
Springfield, IL by way of Lincoln City, IN and St. Louis, MO. Not the most direct path to AZ, huh? Well,
I was thinking that since this trip started as a "Stamping Expedition" for National Park Passport Stamps that I'd
like to continue the quest while I'm within the 1 year time frame. Besides, I'm not a "meet the minimum
requirements" kinda person anyway. So, I left Nashville and rode a 2 lane hwy (431) all the way to the
Indiana stamp. Nice ride passing through country towns. I always like the character of small country
towns and in particular the signage that's on display. For example, a handwritten sign said "DEER PROCESSING
AND HAIRCUTS HERE" - what a deal, huh?...get Bambi skinned and your own head all at the same time! Also, I'm
not sure what it is about the South but I'm thinking they must have an infatuation with things that blow up, more
specifically, like fireworks. They are everywhere... in big football field sized stores off interstate exits
with neon lights that make you think you're in Vegas as well as off country roads with handwritten signs like the
one I saw today on a 2 lane road beside a mailbox leading down the driveway of a private farm:
"FRESH LETTUCE, BEANS, BLUEBERRIES, & FIREWORKS"
Got the IN stamp, "Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial" - Lincoln City, IN
Left Lincoln's crib then headed toward St. Louis to get the MO state stamp. Let me say that if you live in St.
Louis, well, I'm very sorry. I don't think I've ever passed through STL and not hit a snag-be it road construction,
a wreck halting all directions, horrible weather, etc. Today was no different. I had to get to the Ulysses S.
Grant stamp by 5pm and had left IN in time that I'd have an hour to forfeit to STL issues. Well, I needed every
single second. Apparently "major bridge work" also means major delays and as I crept along fluctuating between
walking speed and completely stopped the time ticked on. And on. And on. I don't like the feeling of
sitting in traffic after riding for hours knowing a stamp is within striking distance but will be closing. As I was
debating on whether to either lane-split or start crying a Harley appears from nowhere and pulls up beside me. He
asked where I was headed and after stumbling for something other than "the stamp!!" I gave him the name of the
road. He said "follow me, I know a shortcut." I'm thinking, oh great, I'm following another Harley rider
except this one looked way more serious, in fact, something to do with "Hell" on his vest. So, I start following
Mr. Hell who proceeds to lane-split thru this hellacious traffic on this bridge. Of course, in my head I'm preparing
a statement to my attorney so when I'm arrested I can just concentrate on figuring out how to get the stamp from jail. We
eventually make it to an exit, then a side road, an alley, then a red light where he stops and points me in a
direction. Thankfully, my GPS agrees so I blaze ahead. It's now 4:58 and I'm 3 miles away. Of course, more
construction ahead. Except I see a bike path beyond the detour sign which has nothing but gravel behind it. Yup,
off I went. I slid into the dang site at 5:04 and pulled the Strom right up to the front door where a big "closed"
sign hung. I knocked on the door thinking I must be nuts... riding for hours in the opposite direction of my final
destination, following Mr. Hell around, breaking a law or two in the process, all for a dang stamp! Youbetcha! It's
what makes this Stamping thing so crazy! As I was walking back to the bike the door opened and a Ranger
appeared. Hallelujah!! I think he felt sorry for me and said for "braving the heat and traffic" he'd let me in
to stamp my book. Yee-haw!! There was so much construction going on even at the stamp site that I couldn't get
a pic of the Strom and the stamp sign. Hopefully this will suffice for the IBA:
"Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site" - St.Louis, MO:
I grabbed something to eat to let the STL traffic zoo quiet down then headed up to Springfield, IL where the
IL stamp is located that I'll pick up tomorrow AM. It's also an urban stamp (middle of city) and not
too far from the Illinois State Capital. Looked kinda cool at night:
This past weekend did some hiking and playing at Rock Island State Park - Rock Island, TN (between McMinnville &
Sparta). Very rustic park with waterfalls galore and a huge gorge to hike. The roads leading to the
park were highly enjoyable as well! Great place to ride and swim and totally desolate for a summer weekend!
A very cool bridge at Fall Creek Falls State Park (TN):
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Your generic backwoods TN road:
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RTJohn update.... talked to him this past weekend. He left IL en route for Phoenix and was calling from a
friend's house in Carlsbad, NM. Yeah, I know, not the most direct route for a sore back! He should
be back in Phoenix by tonight.
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