I did not want to leave my house at Lock and Dam 51 in Golconda. My stay there was magical, and I think this will be the luxurious highlight of my journey.
I was hoping to watch a thunderstorm from my fancy porch last night, but instead I was thrilled to see something truly exotic for a native of the western United States: FIREFLIES! Tons of them! Sitting on the porch watching them with the reflected lights on the Ohio River was a treasure.
I went back to bed happy.
Then, when I woke up in the morning, I thought it was foggy outside. Nope, it was POURING, but there was no thunder, so I donned my rain gear and set out. And it stopped raining 15 minutes later.
The ride from Golconda to my next dry oasis in Ullin was blessedly flat, except for one ridiculous hill (starting at mile 8.3) that reminded me of eastern Kentucky.
I mailed back another small box of stuff I don’t need (this is the third one). It only weighed three pounds, and I am pretty sure there is nothing else I can give up at this point. I am still holding onto my water purifier just in case, though.
Since the weather has been so wet, I have been staying in motels a lot more than I expected, and I have stayed in some REALLY dismal places, in every conceivable dimension. I haven’t seen bedbugs yet, and I do check (thanks to having a brother-in-law who is an exterminator). Knock on wood?
I wanted to call out tonight’s motel, America’s Best Value Inn, in Ullin, Illinois, though, because it is PERFECT. I made the reservation via Expedia, but they let me switch to a first floor room and waived the early check-in fee. They have a washer and dryer. The TV and WiFi actually work. All the drains work. Nothing smells weird. There are no stains or holes in the towels. The “continental breakfast” starts at 6:00. And, finally, the owner, Tap, and his wife, are very friendly.
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