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Eastward Distraction Part 2 – Day Six
By Thom | July 8, 2008
Cumberland Gap, TN to Mason City, IA – 1006 miles!!!!!!
Wow, what a day (really it was two day’s since I didn’t arrive into Katie’s place in Iowa until 3 a.m.) I started out the morning later than I had intended, but I just couldn’t get enough of the cold mountain air. I hit the road around 8:30 and buzzed up to Mammoth Cave NP for the first stamp of the day. It was a nice ride, plenty of sunshine and easy roads. I met a gentleman at a gas station who had a bike just like mine, 20 years ago. It seems the more I travel, the greater the number of people I run into that have had Silverwing or CX500. We chatted for a while about my adventures before he went off to play “the best round of golf in all of Kentucky.”
I looked at my route and realized that the only stamp that I could get between Kentucky and home was in Springfield, Illinois – Lincoln’s Home. So I set my sights on making it to Springfield for the last stamp on this trip. I didn’t push too hard, but enjoyed the scenery on my way. This didn’t help me make it in time to get an actual stamp, but I got a picture of my bike next to the visitors center – which is as good as a stamp per Iron Butt Association rules.
It was around 6:30 when I hit the President’s home and I checked the weather for tomorrow. The plan was to stay the night north of Springfield and then continue on home tomorrow. The weather said that there was going to be rough thunderstorms with large hail possible during the night and tomorrow. So I could do only one thing… ride…. and ride I did.
I only stopped for gas and would eat on the bike as I screamed up to Mason City, IA. I made it to the World’s Largest Truck stop on I80 around midnight and listened on the CB for road closures between the truck stop and Katies. Apparently I80 west of Iowa City was closed due to flooding but that was ok with me as I needed to go north out of Iowa City – whew! And so the lonely journey up through Iowa began around midnight and ended at 3 a.m. with me collapsing on Katie’s floor, 1006 miles later! A beautiful end to a great adventure!
Mammoth Cave’s new addition to the visitor’s center
Lincoln’s Home
World’s Largest Truck Stop – twice in one month, yeash, I’m getting to be a regular
That’s the end to the “Eastward Distraction Tour” – Thank you for all of your support and wading through the website!
Similar Posts:
- Eastward Distraction – Day Nine
- Eastward Distraction – Day Seven
- Eastward Distraction Part 2 – Day One
- Westward Distraction: Day Ten
- Eastward Distraction – Day Eight
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