Nearly back to Marion, the roads are lined with fans to cheer me on. "Allez!" "Allez!" (Go! Go!) they shout.

Actually this is Mike McKee and his daughter. And they did come to cheer me on. On his way to SIU this morning, Mike drove the route near DuQuoin, estimating my arrival time at the check point there, in order to check on me. He found me stopped to eat a fig bar just at the town limits. Then, he came to Marion after the SIU event to cheer me on. He's more than just a cycling friend. He's a real friend.