Life On A B-I7

Route

• Iroquois, Unplanned Rest Day

Metrics

• Miles: 0
• Average Speed: NA mph
• Travel Time: None

Notes

• Taking shelter today from a day of rain.

Today

• When tempted, look temptation in the eye and then walk away. Laughing at temptation helps you to overcome it.

I’ve arrived in the town of Iroquois, Illinois. I’m 3 miles west of the Indiana border. The town is famous for hosting Cross-Country Cyclists.

It had been raining most of the day, so the first thing I did was duck into the Iroquois Café for a bite to eat. I was greeted warmly by my server. The owner and chef, John, came out of the kitchen to greet me. They host Cyclists in the City Park across the street. It’s not exactly what you might imagine, it’s even better. John called the Mayor and the Mayor came and opened up his office to me. There’s a shower, a bathroom and a cot to sleep on. Out of the rain, I might add.

There is a bit of mystery surrounding my visit to the Village of Iroquois. The sign at the entrance to the town says, “Village of Iroquois.” “Welcome to Bunkum.” I’m going to have to do some research to see what that means.

Today is an unplanned rest day for two reasons. The first, is because it is supposed to rain all day, which indeed it has. The second, is because there are going to be three live bands tonight on Main Street celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Iroquois Café. The owner John is hosting the event. There is no way I could miss that.

In the Mayor’s office, there are two bound volumes of handwritten notes from Cyclists that have been hosted here. There was also a sign that read:

“All we ask for is a thank you note…” Here is how I replied.

To Mayor Joe and the wonderful people of Iroquois, Illinois. What a pleasure it is to meet you all! I am humbled and grateful for your haspitality and your, kindness. I am riding across America for my personal gratification and experience, but l am also raising money through pledges for the Homeless Shelter and Food Kitchen in my home town of Redmond, OR. You can be assured that your kindness to me Is indirectly helping to feed and shelter persons you will never meet. That is the beauty of kindness. It flows out in different directions we can’t see. Thank you.

The Iroquois Callaboose. You need to behave yourself in Iroquois so you don’t end up here. Constructed in 1881, this two cell jail was built to protect the town from “wicked people” who came from other places to “disturb the peace.”

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