Day 38 (Berea to Hindman)

(113.6mi,11.8mph,8556ft)
Started around 8:15 and went 20 miles to Sand Gap for breakfast. We had some longer climbs, but none were too bad. It was the humidity that made it difficult today. The road conditions got worse and the dogs became more frequent as we went farther east in Kentucky. We reached Hindman in the evening after a long, hot day filled with dogs, pot holes, rumble strips, and car horns. There was a bike hostel associated with the historical society listed on my maps, so we called, only to find out that it was $25 per person. We ran out of other options, so we decide to head to the hostel. I assumed that for $25 a person (more than we've paid anywhere, even motels) we would be sleeping inside. That was not the case. We were told to set up our tent on the hill behind the historical society building. The $25 would have included dinner and breakfast, but since we didn't call a day ahead, we wouldn't get dinner. We asked if he would lower the fee, and he told us that we hadn't taken advantage of everything he offers, but that it's $25 no matter what. It was too late to find a place to camp in the woods, so we gave up. Frustrating. We're going to try to sleep in the humidity.

Day 37 (Bardstown to Berea)

(96.7mi,12mph,6818ft)
Slept in, Aidan woke up to a flat, and we had breakfast at subway, so we didn't leave until around 10:45. It was 30 miles before we encountered any gas stations, so we stopped for lunch around 1. The hills started to get a little longer, but it was still a fairly easy day. It got cloudy and looked like it was going to rain for most of the afternoon, which made it much cooler. We got chased by a few dogs, but they didn't give us any trouble. Hopefully we'll be done with the dogs after tomorrow, which should be our last full day in Kentucky. We arrived in Berea late because of our late start, and found an rv park near Walmart where we stopped for food. We're still on schedule to finish in 7 more days.

Day 36 (Whitesville to Bardstown)

(106.2mi,13.6mph,5600ft)
The smaller hills continued in the morning and got a little bigger, but it was still an easy day. The humidity may have been the worst part; it was probably our most humid day yet. After about 65 miles we were taking a break at a gas station in Eastview when 4 other cyclists pulled up. They were headed west and had been on the road for about 3 weeks. They had come on a shortcut from Bardstown. Bardstown was 65 miles away according to the route, but their shortcut would get us there in 40. It was an easy ride to Bardstown where we had dinner and found a campground. We took showers and were informed that they would be having a fireworks show right next to the campground at 11. Going to sleep a little later tonight, so we may get a later start in the morning. It's about 90 miles to Berea and the end of the 3rd to last map. 8 more days.

Day 35 (Cave In Rock, IL to Whitesville, KY)

(102.8mi,13.7mph,5716ft)
We got on the ferry across the Ohio River at 7 and were in Kentucky 15 minutes later. We rode 12 miles to Marion before stopping for breakfast at McDonalds. While we were inside it rained for a few minutes, but stopped by the time we were ready to go. 25 miles later we grabbed a quick lunch in Clay before riding 20 miles to Sebree. We made one more stop in Utica before we got to Whitesville for the night. We had rolling hills all day that made for an enjoyable ride. It was humid, but not as hot as the last week or so. After 5 weeks, we've gone 2884 miles and averaged 82.5 miles per day. We should have around 950 miles to go, and we're planning on 9 more days.

Day 34 (Carbondale to Cave In Rock)

(85.7mi 12.2mph 5805ft)
The bike shop didn't open until 10, so we didn't get started until 10:30. We stopped in Goreville after about 25 miles for pizza, then 25 more to Eddyville for a snack. From there it was around 35 to Cave In Rock, so we rode until 8:15 to get there. We camped on the bank of the Ohio River, ready to take the ferry across to Kentucky in the morning. Fortunately there are showers in the welcome center for us to use tonight, and camping was only $7.50. We have a little over 1000 miles left, so our goal is to be done in 10 more days, on July 12.

Day 33 (Farmington, MO to Carbondale, IL)

(88.6mi,13.7mph,3710ft)
The Ozark hills continued, but got smaller as we approached Illinois. We crossed the Mississippi and took the alternate route to Murphysboro, which had less hills. Then we decided to take another shortcut off the alternate to cut off at least 5 miles. (2/4 successful shortcuts) After a quick stop in Murphysboro, we took hwy 13 (3/5 shortcuts) to Carbondale to meet my dad's cousin Cary for dinner. We ended up at a motel as it got dark and we ran out of free alternatives. I ran over a piece of glass that popped a hole in my tire and tube this afternoon, so we're headed to the bike shop in the morning for a new tire. We should be at the Kentucky border tomorrow night, if not in Kentucky.

Day 32 (Eminence to Farmington)

(86.4mi,12.1mph,6844ft)
We had been warned about the steep hills east of Eminence, and the steepness of the Ozarks in general, but they weren't bad. Some were steep, but they were all short. We stopped in Ellington for lunch and met a group of 12 on 6 tandem bikes. Two families of 6 with kids as young as 8! It was hot riding after lunch, but we had some shade and a breeze that made it bearable. We rode another 60 miles to Farmington (with a shortcut that cut off 7 miles. We're one for three on successful shortcuts) and found an inn for cyclists that we had been hearing about.