You can tell Illinois is the land of Lincoln. We see signs of "Lincoln Slept Here," or, as in this case "Lincoln Spoke Here."

This an old building in downtown La Harpe.

This old City Hall building in La Harpe caught our eye. This is how city government should be organized. Police, Fire and City Hall all wrapped in to one efficient location.

This morning dawned clear and beautiful after a night of some rain and quite a downturn in the temperature from the unseasonable warmth to more of a Fall-like day.

We continued our journey west across rural Illinois, heading toward Nauvoo. This is the bridge that spans the Illinois River at Pekin, a suprisingly large city, just south of Peoria.

Again we forsook the Interstate and took to state route 9 which took us through the communities of Canton, Bushnell, Good Hope and La Harpe. And at La Harpe we had to slow down and drive some side streets and take some photos. It was such an interesting little town.

Day 44, Wed, Oct 15, Indianapolis, IN to Bloomington, IL

The further we went westward across Illinois from Indiana, the more the countryside began to look like driving down a Chandler, Arizona farm road (in the old days at least) with mile after mile of land under cultivation.

We have seen a lot of corn fields today. The stalks are all dried and ready to be cut down.

This picture was taken on US 136, west of the town of Rantoul, Illinois.

When we tried to take a photo of the Indianapolis downtown skyline while we motored along through the city our tiny digital camera wouldn't function. We thought we would have no pictures to make record of our day's travels. But, later just for the heck of it we tried again, and presto! It worked!

So, here is another of only three photos taken today as we passed through all the little villages and towns on US 136 between Indianapolis, Indiana and Bloomington, Illinois.

It is great therapy for the modern man and woman, getting off the "fast lane" of every day life and taking the "road less traveled" as we have expressed before, but which we say once more.

This drive today was so pleasant. The scenes weren't as breathtaking and spectacular as some we've had but beautiful and very refreshing none the less. Driving at speeds well below 50 mph (30 mph through most townships) with time to actually see the countryside and the houses and small businesses; the old historic buildings and the quiet, modest middle American homes, so many decorated for Halloween and the Autumn season was just a delight.

This morning we checked out of our lodgings in Greenfield, a community on the east side of Indianapolis, and kept to the Interstate until we got on the west side of the big city. Then, to Linda's immense relief we hopped onto US 136. This is a quiet 2-lane road through the countryside, going from one little farming community to another, like this village of Hillsboro.

We stopped and turned around so we could take a photo of the interesting statement on the sign welcoming travelers to their little town. This is truly middle America!

Day 43, Tues, Oct 14, Columbus, OH to Indianapolis, IN

We found accomodations at a Days Inn on the west side of Columbus, Ohio Monday evening. We needed to be in a larger urban area so we could find a Nissan dealership and keep our car on its maintenance schedule.

Leaving Linda at the hotel I took the car over to a nearby Nisson dealer Tuesday morning for a quick oil change and systems check. They found unusual wear on our front tires; much more than 11,000 miles would normally cause. But, by 12:30 pm they had the alignment corrected and two new tires mounted, all under the warranty thank goodness. The hotel was happy to grant us a little extra time and we packed up and made a later than usual start down the road, stopping for the night in Greenfield, Indiana on the outskirts of Indianapolis.

Another warm, although cloudy day, with just a touch of rain, but without the spectacular views we have been spoiled with for so many days. We can tell we are heading into America's heartland; cornfields on every side, mile after mile.

We were on the Interstate, trying to make time and took no pictures today, so we give you this shot, taken by Linda two days ago, looking off to the northwest from US 40, in the beautiful Allegheny mountains of Maryland. It is places like this that makes her want to buy a home in the country.