A serendipitous day

     After leaving the Jackson's house, I headed off to see former college president Minor Myers' statue at Illinois Wesleyan.  Our family knew him through my sister when he was a professor at Connecticut College. Outstanding statue of a man in stride, books in one arm and a violin in the other.  

      Next stop, the Normal post office where my new route maps from Adventure Cycling awaited me.  After studying the maps over a cup of joe, I followed Route 66 north out of town.  Nice road but no shoulder.  99% of the drivers were considerate but two drivers deliberately passed too close, expletive deleted. It can be nerve racking but all part of the ride.  My horizontally expended orange flag has been a life saver, literally.             

     A restaurant in Chinoa caught my eye where am older gentleman, Jim Raymond, and I met and head lunch together.  He snagged the check and paid for lunch, no warning.  Next, the waitress, Mindy, learning that I was headed for her home town of Odell, had me check in with her father at the local bank when I arrived. She said her father would set me up at the local park and pool.  Jim Rebholz was expecting me at the bank.  In showing me  to the pool and park which he manages, he took mercy on my sweaty tiired soul  and offered his home as a place for me to stay.  A hot shower. a cold beer and A/C  did the trick.  Connie and Jim Redholz cooked me a sumptuous dinner after which we indulged ourselves at Dairy Queen.

      Two acts of kindness by two complete strangers in quick succession along with all the other acts of kindness throughout this trip affirms my belief that someone is keeping an eye out for me.