86 miles from Lowden, IA to Orion, IL. The day started with a nice relaxing breakfast with Laura's parents and then they drove us back to Lowden to pick up where we left off two days ago.

A thick fog enshrouded us right away and soon the rain was falling so we were forced to seek shelter at a well-digging business under their awning. Luckily, a truck pulled up right away and let us inside to wait out the thunder and heavy stuff. Their office cat was very friendly, as were they, though a little surprised at what we were doing.

Got into Muscatine at lunchtime and hit The Button Factory (the pearl button business was very big at one-time here) and then the library to check on a weather forecast. We finally departed after a little debate and decided to shoot for Orion, another 50 miles or so. Illinois turned out to be just what we needed: flat with great rural roads with a north wind that enabled us to make good time.

It's not exactly all downhill, Ernie, after the halfway point! Got to the Hillcrest Resort around 7:30pm and were fortunate to have the owners let us use their warm shower rather than the cold-water swimming pool variety.
 

Dined at their golf course pro shop (pizza, candy, PBR's and wine coolers!) and read the paper while the locals watched NASCAR. They had 3" of rain here today, with more forecast tomorrow, so we're happy we only got as wet as we did.

Priuses today = 2