August 5, Bellbrook OH to Hannibal MO

We got up to rumbling thunder, and packed the car up just as the rain was beginning.  Goodbyes to John and Sajona, with thanks for all of their hospitality.

We drove around 45 minutes to the home of Jeanie, Dick’s former wife with whom he has been able to maintain a really nice friendship.  We were sorry to have missed seeing her husband who had to work that day.  Jeannie had prepared a delicious brunch for us and we had a very enjoyable time catching up on family, travel and news. Jeanie has two really nice golden retrievers who were very affectionate.  A nice visit, and then we were off into the rain.

We drove through rain for a couple hours, and then things began to dry up, and by the time we left Indiana we were driving under pretty fair skies.  Indiana passed without much excitement, and so did much of Illinois.  Because we were able to gain a little time, we were able to make a stop in Springfield IL.  Springfield was the Home of Abraham Lincoln when he was a congressman, had run for the Senate and was elected as president.   We got to see the outside of the home where he and his family lived for many years.  We watched an excellent National Park service video about the life of Lincoln in Springfield.  Again, it was touching to think we were walking around in the area where Lincoln walked many times.

Then it was just an hour and a half to Hannibal Missouri, just on the western side of the Mississippi River—the first time we have been west of it since the second week of July when we crossed into Vicksburg, MS.  We had dinner and settled in to catch up on our blogging and watch some more Olympics.  We really have had the sense that we are on our way home now heading ever westward.