The Pig, the parting, heading West to Iowa

After breakfast at Yannis in downtown Manteno, IL we all drove to Paul and Dee's farm for the Pig. Cars were parked alongside the road, a couple of camping trailers were set up in the field along with several tents. The kegs were tapped, snacks were put out, and finally the pig was pulled off the roaster and served. Neighbors and many of  the other guests brought food to go along with what Paul and Dee provided, so there were three tables laden with dishes. No one went home hungry.

The weather was gray and cool, which everyone agreed was better than sunny and hot. The rain, which had been threatening all day, finally began in the early evening and continued sporadically until Midnight. Karl of Ace-Pyro kept saying that it would be a small fireworks display because of the weather, but everyone  thought that it was quite spectacular.

Leslie and her R1200R ready to head East

On Sunday morning we (10 of us) gathered again for breakfast at Yannis. Leslie headed east on her R1200R and the rest of the crew went back to the farm to say our goodbyes and to gather up Chris and Dave and take them to the airport.

Packing up and leaving

A crop duster flying overhead provided entertainment

Ever the perfect hosts,  the Spitzigs provided breakfast

Carol, Anne, and Chris and Dave left for O'Hare in Anne's rental and after another half hour of visiting I said my goodbyes and headed west, alone on the bike for the first time in two weeks. I took a series of back roads to avoid going anywhere near Chicago and to bypass Joliet, and eventually got on US 52, which goes north and west. I connected to US 30 near Amboy, where I stopped for an early dinner at the Amboy Family Restaurant, AKA the AM FAM.

There was a brief delay on an Illinois back road while an errant motor home was pulled out of a ditch.

Victor in front of the AM FAM

US 30 crossed the Mississippi at Clinton, Iowa, where I'm spending the night at a rather seedy Super 8. This is the only motel, or indeed any other business, in the area and I suspect that the preferred route would have been north on Highway 67 through town rather than south.

Tomorrow morning is supposed to be rainy. I'm meeting the rest of  the Gang of Five at a coffee house in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin in the early afternoon and we will continue together in a convoy to Mankato, Minnesota.