Day 7 (9/25)

I didn't know what to expect this morning when I rolled my bike onto Route 66 for the first time.   When I saw a two lane highway with a miniscule shoulder I was concerned.  I was in for a big change from the rural county roads I had been riding last week, I thought.  But as I started out, the traffic was very light and passing cars gave me lots of space.  I eventually got comfortable and almost became  ecstatic when I discovered that some communities had  installed bike paths along old Route 66.  Approximately 30% of today's ride was on bike paths. YES!!

I met another R66 touring cyclist going north to Chicago.  Hito had started in Santa Monica and was nearing the end of his tour.  He said that the route is awesome and he had no difficulties. He did say that R66 is narrow in Missouri and there was not much shoulder.  

My tires were below maximum pressure as I was riding through Bloomington. A floor pump was needed and I typically stop at bike shops to use theirs. It being Sunday, it was a slim chance of that happening.  As I was looking at a map on the Constitution Trail that winds through the city, a cyclist rode up and asked if I needed assistance.  He helped me with directions, then told me he owns a bike shop if  there was anything I needed.  I asked about a floor pump and he had me follow  him to his shop where he pumped my tires up. It was very kind of him and the bike rolled so much better afterward. I was fortunate to meet up with him!

A stiff headwind developed in the afternoon and I was pedaling hard just to go 10 MPH.  It rained later in the afternoon, which was a mixed blessing because it calmed the winds down in the final 15 miles. I made it to the Pioneer motel in Lincoln IL, for a total of 62.4 miles.  Overall it was a good first day on Route 66.

 Bike Path next to old R66

Hito 

Pioneer Motel