In Illinois

What a wonderful day to be alive and walking around the US! It's warm but not too hot. There's a delicious breeze blowing all the best fragrances of summer: sweet clover, fresh hay and the newly blooming apple and pear blossoms. Crossing over the Mississippi, we enter into the birth state of our nation's 40th president and it doesn't take long before several differences become apparent. The grass is easier on Buddy's feet (not like the poky swamp grass in MO). The hills seem to have much larger trees. The deer are more intrepid and so Bud gets a little closer before they bolt. There are a number of public areas where a pair of tired travelers can rest at shaded picnic tables. Moreover, there aren't quite as many parasites attempting to drain our life fluids. Sufficed to say, I'm glad to be in a new state.

After Friday's intense rain there are lots of places for the pooch to get wet. His mission is, for most of the day, searching for the next best place to cool off, though intermittently that purpose gets blindsided by a woodland creature that happens to cross his path. Just before getting into the town of Barry, a family pulls over to contribute a nice cold bottle of water. It's always much appreciated.

We arrive in Pittsfield around 22:30. Normally I'd want to look around and read all the historical placards which mark notable homes of influential 19th century people, but it's late and Buddy's tired. I don't have much remaining energy myself and so eventually I decide to just pitch the tent at the town's little league field. Hopefully no one will mind.