Day 26: CarbonVILLE, IL

Greetings from CarbonVILLE, Illinoise!  It's supposed to be Carbondale, but Johnny started calling it Carbonville and now we all call it that.  The people here are very nice and don't even try to correct us.
 
As usual, something has happened since our last entry.  Also as usual, the mean librarians of Carbondale won't let me post pictures.  I promised I would edit them... no go.
 
So we left off with Day 23 in Sebree, KY.  After our update, we hung out with probably all of the local kids in Sebree.  We hung out in STYLE.  They brought over a big screen projector and video games, we ordered pizza and swam in the pool at midnight and watched DVDs on the big screen.  That goes to show those naysayers that we really are acclimating to the outdoor life.
 
That evening was a tornado warning, and we watched some serious thunderheads build up and winds blow everywhere.  It was exciting to watch the townspeople show up at the church - apparently the safest place in town in a storm (aren't you glad, moms?).
 
Matt, Steven and Brandon all slept over the church and stayed over for some now infamous Daveyray Pancakes in the morning.  Thank you Stephanie for supplying all the pancake stuff - about 15 seconds after mentioning pancakes, she brought over mix, syrup, the works.  We reluctantly left Sebree and said goodbye to our new friends.  Thanks to Chelsea for letting us pee in her pool.  I mean swim. 
 
Day 24 we made it to Cave in Rock, IL - our first day in Illinois!  We crossed the ferry for free (they still have free stuff in the US, pretty unbelievable) and said goodbye to Kentucky.  Cave in Rock is a nifty little... town?... with a grand ol' opry that is about to open soon, according to the sign that looks about 50 years old.  The campground there is immaculate - more like a golf course.  The people at the campground were friendly bordering on ridiculous.  Our neighbors were Bear and Melinda, a couple who are full time ministers to the biker community.  NOT the cross country biker community, though they did minister to us with some incredible ribs they shared.  They travel the country attending bike rallies and sharing the gospel.  They are currently #1 in the running for greatest job ever.  Another neighbor whose name we didn't even catch brought over bananas and oranges in the morning for breakfast.  Why did he do that?  Someone out there is overpraying.   Keep it up.
 
The next morning was Day 25, and we started it by checking out the Cave where Cave in Rock gets its name.  We took some great pictures and listened to people make up stories about how it was a pirate cave and how there was a bar in the back and how people were murdered there... let's be honest, it's a big hole in a rock.  Still very cool, but that's all it is.
 
We ended up in Fyrne Clyffe Campground, apparentlye an olde englysh playce.  Of course we got lost in the campground and had to climb up a giant hill to find our campsite - no less than two cars made a point of stopping and telling us how to find our compatriot George, who was lounging in his hammock.  We must have looked pretty miserable, they practically drove beside us and pointed out the way.  More friendly folks at this campground - Neil and Daryl who shared some stories and made fun of us for a while.  It was another fun night, though Daveyray and Ryan tried to sleep out and ended up getting eaten by mesquitos.  Johnny really wanted us to put that on the website.
 
Today is day 26 and we made it a short day to CarbonVILLE.  We got in early and hit up the bike shop, internet, and plan on exploring Carbonville for the rest of the day.  We met another biker, Chris, who WAS heading the other way towards the East Coast until we convinced him to hang out with us in Carbonville.  Somehow our lethargy is contagious.  It used to be enthusiasm once...
 
Today Johnny tried to take a picture with these crazy bulls with giant horns but he got too close to the fence... he got out of the way just in time.   Thought you might like to know, Johnny's Mom.
 
Until next time...