Corn, Corn, Soybeans, and Corn

Number one state for corn? Iowa. Number four state is Illinois. But number one state producer for Soybeans? Illinois. I believe it.  Riding along with a buddy today we thought a Jim Morrison theme for our blogs would be something on the lines of Riders on the Storm

Riding through the Corn
Riding through the Corn
Into this ride we're born
Into this ride were thrown
Riding through the Corn...

Endless fields across the horizon of nothing but corn and occasionally soybeans. Phone's camera just doesn't capture scale of the agricultural enterprise.  
Although a solid 87 miles of relatively flat terraine it was horribly hot and humid. 
To get through the day, I kept my stops fairly short and didn't take many snaps other than at the SAG areas. Knowing that tomorrow is a rest day, each mile seemed hard won.  

Mary Jo, one of our riders who signed on for a short stage, will end her ride here in Champaign. She arraigned for her husband, Don, to meet us at the hotel with a couple dozen pints of ice cream. What a generous gesture.  Still another surprise, a rider who did the tour in 2001 showed up to meet us with a cooler full of beer. After the heat along the road today, this couldn't have been a better way to top off the day.


Tomorrow is decorate your helmet day.  Need to figure out something tasteful then go shopping for supplies. 

SAG stop at the Chestnut Grain Elevator.

Bob and Peter arrive at SAG Stop.

Others stopping for water / Gels