Day 47, July 13

Eddyville, IL to Sebree, KY - 96 miles

The campground in Eddyville was a bit underwhelming. It was really set up for mobile homes, RVs and people with horses, rather than tenters. Every site had a small horse corral and about half the people there were in pick-ups that were hauling horse trailers. Another quarter were in very old mobile homes that looked like they hadn't moved in 40 years. It was the only thing close to town though and I got a good night sleep there once I managed to get my tent stakes through the gravel.

The first town I went through after starting off was Elizabethtown, which was about 20 miles out. I had a snack at a convenience store there and asked the clerk where I might be able to pick up some more pepper spray. Earlier in the day I had to use it for the first time when three large, very aggressive dogs came at me at once and got a bit too close.  I suspect that the tiny cannister I have is not going to last through Appalachia.

The picture below is the view looking back towards Elizabethtown and the Ohio River.

After Elizabethtown I followed a small back road called Tower Rock Road. I wish I could take it home with me. It was heavily shaded and wonderful to ride. I saw maybe 2 cars in the 10 or so miles I was on it.

One of the residents along the road had set up a bicycle rest stop. They also had a huge German Sheppard roaming unleashed. It turned out to be friendly and became my buddy after I gave it a piece of beef jerky.

View down Tower Rock Road:

The town of Cave-In-Rock is where I had to take a ferry across the Ohio River. It felt like I was cheating in my quest to bicycle across the U.S.. This is part of the official trans-am route though and even the people that compete in the transamerica race take the ferry here.

Downtown Cave-In-Rock:

The crabwalking ferry:

The KY border was just across the river. Only two states or about 1000 miles left.

The rolling hills of Kentucky, somewhere near Marion:

This side road was one that I fortunately did not have to take:

After passing through Clay and Dixon I ended the day in Sebree just as some more thunder clouds were rolling in.