Day 57 - 58 Miles to Chester, Illinois

Monday, July 21, 58 miles to Chester, Illinois; 3,256 total miles to date. Yes, a new state! Began the day with breakfast - 2 scrambled eggs, bacon, Belgian waffles, coffee, and orange juice. Saw a picturesque scene, a deer in a nice quiet stream drinking. Lunch was a Subway turkey sandwich and 20-ounce bottles of green ice tea and power ade, which I drank both at lunch, went down real smooth. The hills in middle Missouri were tougher than any I saw in all the Rockies, very steep and tiring in the hot and humid conditions. The hills today were not as bad as the previous few days, but there were some surprises. It was hot, humid, hotter than yesterday. Saw one cyclist going West and a few others going East. After 2 hot nights camping, I checked into a Best Western in Chester (pop. 13,924), the home town of Popeye the Sailor Man. Walking to dinner, I passed the Spinach Can Collectible antique store. Dinner tonite is at the Ol' Farmhouse Cafe & Bakery.