Day 30 Kempton, IL to Streator, IL 52 miles Total 1,406.9 mi

 With that amazing oasis fading into the heat haze, the riders set out on June 8th for downtown Kempton, some 5 miles away.  Mark had told us all about his friend David Hatcher Childress an adventurer and author who had a bookstore there.  The downtown was quiet and, unfortunately, nobody was tending the store.  Riders left, but Allane waited, in case someone came along to open it.  

Downtown Kempton

A nice young man from the diner came out to ask me if I was waiting for the diner to open (not until 11) and wondered if I needed a bottle of water or something.  He allowed that usually the bookstore lady's car was there before he came to work.  She actually showed up at 9:50 and said she had an appointment that morning or she would have opened at 9!  Books of ALL kinds, from UFOs to Lost Cities, to Tesla Technology, to Ancient Aliens, to Archie Comics.  Also candy bars and coffee.  The proprietor had a difficult time getting his books published, so he started his own press, AdventuresUnlimitedPress.com.

Mark also told us about another neighbor whose daughter passed away.  He converted his farm to organic in her memory and now has a huge business in organic grains: Janie's Farm.

We all stopped in Odell, at an historic Route 66 gas station.  No gas now, but they sell Route 66 soda pop!

Knowing that there was little to nothing on the route to the next stop, Allane continued west and north to Starved Rock State Park.  It was hot, but the trails were shaded, so I walked three trails, to Starved Rock, Lovers Leap and Eagle Cliffs.  They were all lookouts, high above the Illinois River.  As I got into the truck to return to the motel, Steve called, wondering where I was.  They had to check into the motel and wait until I drove the 30 minutes back with their street clothes!

At dinner at Al's Place, we saw a very interesting system for cooling the restaurant.