Great day - into Matteson IL

Today we rode 91 miles from Peru to Matteson, Illinois. We climbed 1,382 feet. 

What a difference a day makes. Today we had great weather, with clear skies and temperatures in the mid-70s. Mild breezes and a mix of road and trail riding made today enjoyable. We had mostly good roads and passed through some very nice small towns. We briefly rode along the Illinois River, where everyone seemed to be trying to take advantage of any remaining warm weather. We rode the last 15 miles or so on The Old Plank Road Trail (www.oprt.org), where we saw many more great blue herons and a wide assortment of turtles. The trail itself cut through many Chicago suburbs and their town centers, so we got a good feel for life in the area.  Iowa and Illinois seem to invest a lot in public parks and other open spaces. 

We had some visits from classmates and families today; some will ride with us and others just come to wish us well.  They are always welcome to participate at any level and they bring a lot of joy. There's still time left if you're interested...

A bit of a slow news day, so I'll leave it there.  Big day tomorrow. Twelve days left.

Tomorrow we will ride from Matteson, Illinois to South Bend, Indiana. We will cycle 106 miles and climb 1,997 feet. 

Totals to Date

Miles: 2,375

Elevation Gain: 75,972

Flat Tires: 39

States crossed: 6

Centuries: 6