We feel very much at home here!

We are way behind in getting travel posts published this summer because we're having too much fun traveling! So we won't be confused about when each "wandering" happened, we'll start each blog with its actual date.

October 7, 2022

We left our camping spot on Shelbyville Lake around noon, heading to our last stop in Illinois. It was a 90-mile drive to the rural area just east of St. Louis. As we approached Edwardsville, Illinois, we discovered that we were once again on Historic Route 66. We lived for over 35 years on the section of Route 66 that runs through Oklahoma. We raised our children and we retired from jobs on Route 66. This stop feels very much like being at home.

We are heading to another Boondockers Welcome site, and we were glad that our hosts gave detailed directions to get to their home. They encouraged us to keep driving on that narrow gravel road through the woods that had no options for turning around or meeting another vehicle. This road feels a little like some of the roads back home.

At the end of the road was our electric hook-up site with a view of the cornfield right out our front windshield. We love living in the agriculture belt of America, and again we are feeling very much at home here! Dave and Marcia are perfect hosts, that first introduced us to their friendly dog Gracie, who really likes to play ball. Then they took us on a 2.5-mile hike around their property and told us all about their lives in Illinois. We are honored to get to know about a new part of the country directly from the people that have lived here all their lives! They made us feel right at home. 

They own the farmland in front of our motor home, but it is farmed by Dave's brother. He decided to cut the crop that evening, so we had a front row seat for Illinois corn harvest under the lights. Denisa has some experience driving a combine, so she felt right at home.

Also on the property, they raise peaches and blackberries. They use them to make ice cream, and they have a wonderful reputation of sharing this home-made goodness with their RVing guests. But Dave also brought us mugs of home-made steak and vegetable soup for our dinner. Have we mentioned how blessed we have been in our travels this summer, and how much we feel at home here?

On Sunday morning we went to church in Edwardsville, and then stayed for a bike ride. This little town has an impressive bike trail system called "Seven Loops" that includes circular trails that range from 10 to 31 miles in length

We chose a loop, and started our ride. It didn't feel like we were riding through town, because we most often had trees on both sides of the trail. 

We appreciated all the tunnels and bridges that had been built for the bike trail so we didn't have to cross busy roads.

This is a great small-town bike system. We only have one complaint. The weather must have been ideal for the throngs of tiny gnats that congregate along this trail. We learned to keep our mouths closed when approaching the clouds of these small flying bugs. They try to fly into your mouth and nose and eyes and ears . . .

While we felt covered in gnats at times, they were especially obvious in Denisa's white hair.

Maybe the gnats are particularly aggressive because their days are numbered this year. The weather was turning cooler during our stay. As we looked out over the grassy lawn towards our hosts' house, we could see frost on the ground. It must be time to head even further south!

But we have one more stop to make before we leave. We were just 30 miles from St. Louis, and we want to spend a day exploring this city. Dave and Marcia think we are crazy for wanting to see the sights of St. Louis. They seldom go there, and see it as a crime-infested crowded place to avoid at all cost. But as much as we love their ice cream and soup, we're not going to follow their advice to stay away. Even though we feel very much at home here, we're explorers that love to see new things. So we'll see you in St. Louis for the next blog.