July 30th Lincoln Birthplace National Something or Other

Missouri is not the internet rich state that Kansas or Colorado were. It has been so long since I wrote and in any given day SO very much happens...I can't even keep up in my journal. So, I'm giving up trying to play the catch up game and write things in order. I'll just try to remember a few things from as many of the previous days as I can...like maybe the name of the city. We have had some long days of riding and by the time we get food, showers (if we are lucky), or a swim in a river or pool (if we are REALLY lucky), and find a place to camp or sleep...it is time to go to bed. Right now I am in a McDonalds restaurant (for maybe the 3rd time in my life) because one of the locals said it is the only place in town with internet. Nobody has said a thing about the fact that I haven't actually purchased anything. I'm on Ken's computer and he just left on my bike to meet Matt and the boys and get a ride in while I get my internet fix.
Ken arrived yesterday, July 29th. He flew in to Lousville, KY and drove out to meet us on this little country road. He called me on my cell phone when he thought he should be getting close to us and said "I'm about 10 miles from Utica, I'm driving a white Carbon Footprint". We met him around 1:30pm and stopped for lunch in a corn field. He came absolutely LADEN with cherished gifts...amazing imported cheeses from Dean and DeLucca, an ice chest full of cold imported dark beers, white wine, PowerAides, milk, chocolate. He also brought bike parts for both Matt and I (Matt needed a new tire and I broke a back hinge on one of my pedals), New York Times, SportsIllustrated, Title Nine catalouge (unfortunately the pages were all stuck together so I couldn't read it). He brought french bread, crackers, and a whole bushel of gifts from Sharon...including, but not limited to:ultraGalmorous Bindi's, tantalizing shower gel, homemade blackberry scones, much coveted Harbro fruity candies from Holland, exotic chocolates, New Yorker Magazine, all the sports sections the boys can eat, and best of all....succulant, perfectly ripe and so delicious as to be otherworldly, Peaches and tomatoes!!!!!! That night we made pasta with a sort of primavera sauce from some of the cheeses, tomatoes, basil from Ken's garden, peas that we had bought locally, etc. We met a woman who is riding by herself from Boston to Colorado and invited her for dinner too. She was very cool and you can see her in the pictures I will try to post. But the very best thing that Ken brought was himself!!! If is so great to see him. We all had sort of hit a wall of fatigue and inertia and Ken has been like this blast of fresh air for all of us! Solomon didn't leave his side for about the first 12 hrs. Matt is like a new person, having someone to make him laugh and to drink beers with. Ken said it's fun getting to play Santa Claus to people who never get Santa. It was such a feast of new jokes and energy, these amazing cheeses, beers, chocolates, breads, scones, etc. Then this morning Ken and I drove to the place we are all staying (which is where I am now...Lincoln's Birthplace National Whatever) and then he took my bike and rode out to meet the boys and will ride back with them. Then tomorrow he will sag our stuff and head home. It is so nice having a sag...even if it is just a few days...to be able to ride with no gear except lunch...have your room all reserved for you when you get there...etc. We are really feeling like the trip is winding down. We still have the Appalacians and we've heard they will be very tough. But, we only have half of Kentucky and Virginia left. I will miss riding my bike every day, through all this beautiful and different countryside. But, we still have a few more weeks so I'm going to try to enjoy every min.
The dawn chorus is just getting richer and richer. There are so many more and varied songbirds than I am used to. We have loved the Cardinals and the story about Laura's mom gets recited by Solomon at least once a week. There is also a dusk chorus of bugs and insects. It is like this weird rhythmic, electronic symphony. We've also seen all kinds of Woodpeckers, both in flight and skirting around trees trying not to be spotted.
Uh Oh....gotta order an Iced Tea or something.
More in a min.
Love,
Djina