Day 24

Got a weird feeling from this campground. Feels like an RV park for alchoholics. Suspicions were confirmed when I went into the bar at 8:15am to use the bathroom and there were already (or still) 6 or 8 people in there.

Packed up and headed out without breakfast. That's the nice thing about being on the road- if ya don't like a place you can jusr clear out. On the road at 8:30, a new record. Made it to Mattoon before long, a miserable town, but it had a school with some benches to sit on and have my breakfast.

The day's weather was equally dreary. Cloudy, a little windy with spots of rain. Did notice though that a little wind and grey sky can make anything you do feel pretty epic.

Other observations: Wisconsin smells like poop. Mostly cow poop, some horse poop, and some poop unrecognizably foul. Scenery's pretty good. People hit or miss.

Decided to push on to Crandon, fine little town of maybe 2,000.

Having made a deal with myself some 15 miles ago, I rewarded myself with 2 slices of pizza for a mere $2.25 at the local pizza place. Resembled pizza only in its core elements, but really lacked the flavor or feel of most real pizzas. That said, a warm, cheesy, doughey thing that I didn't make was a dream come true.

Started so early, that I had made it to Crandon, the 60 mile mark, by just 3 o'clock. So I took it easy there, got some wifi etc and then rolled out towards Hiles, another 10 miles. On the way did some of my new pastime, roadside gardening:

Leaving Crandon, I heard a frightening sound, like a very angry beehive from far away. I got closer and I smelled exhaust and finally when I was nearly on it, my eyes burned from the dust in the air. Realized it was a rally car race.

Couldn't get a good view but I didn't hang around long at that worshiping of fossil fuels, speed and violence. Like modern day gladiators they ripped eachother up, spinning at high speeds around that track. The tailgate surrounding it was equally as putrid.

At Hiles, there were two places to camp. A RV park/campground and a national forest campground. I knew I needed a shower and laundry too, but dammit I was so fed up with those private campgrounds I went to the other one. Those places are just full of screaming kids, and mowed green lawns, and the only view is the side of other folk's trailers. Doesn't feel like you're anywhere. And they expect you to pay for it. The national forest campground actually had pine trees, some sense of peace and quiet and good, cold water that didn't taste like chlorine. Started to rain as I pulled in so I made a shelter for Breezey and me to cook under.

A tasty soup and then sleep. Too many bugs to stay awake.