WICKLIFFE, KY TO JONESBORO/ANNA, IL

May 12, Tuesday
40 miles

Yahoo! We're in Illinois! We have loved riding through the South but I guess we have officially left the South behind and are starting a new adventure. We had made arrangements with the man at the motel office to give us a ride over the Ohio River bridge into IL because it was highly recommended that we note ride it. As we went across we could see why. Very narrow and no shoulder and about 1/2 mile long.
Arrangements had been made to meet at 7:00A so we were outside the office ready to go by 6:50. At 7:40 the made came out and said he tried several times to call us in our room. Oops.
As we rode across the bridge Bobby Lester, our escort, told us to be very careful in Cairo. Not to leave our bikes out . It wasn't safe. WOW! I guess we've been warned.
He let us off in front of a restaurant where we locked up our bikes and got a window table and had a great breakfast. The town looked pretty innocent to us. I was thinking what a shame that a town has that kind of a reputation. What could I do if I lived there to change that?
The ride today was mostly flat with occasional hills. A couple of the hills reminded me of the hills on the way to the coast from Salem to Lincoln City. Gradual grade but go on forever.
Blue skies! Winds ESE! Nice day for a bike ride.
Arrived in Jonesboro and found the library open! We'll stay here tonight. Map says there are 15 miles of winding hills to the next stop. We'll take those on when we're fresh in the morning.
When we got to the city center we stopped to call a motel and discovered that the motels in town were full because of the in land hurricane that had occurred up north Friday/Saturday and people were still without power. Oops! We hadn't planned on that. The motel gave us the number of a place that might have a room. We called it and they did and no questions asked we proceeded to ride following their directions into Anna just adjacent to Jonesboro.
We arrived at Davey School Inn, an elementary school built in 1910 that had been sold for $2,000 lock stock and school desks to a young couple seven years ago. The building reminds me so much of McKinley School in Salem with the same basic floor plan...steps, four classrooms on first landing and steps up to the second. Large cafetaria/gymasium/stage. It has been renovated, refurbished and totally nostalgia-ished into a Bed & Breakfast. Each 850 sq. foot class room has been turned in to a room for guests complete with black boards, maps, and memorabilia of those good old school days. Of course conveniences to make you feel you are in a 5 star hotel. Lush towels, a magnificent bed, dining table, love seat, small kitchen ,jacuzzi, etc. etc. A delicious breakfast of vegetable omlette with a large bowl of fresh strawberries, pineapple, watermelon, etc and sour dough toast and orange juice was served the next morning to our room at the time of our choosing. When Rusty went down to check out we both took a deep breath and promised not to faint when we got the bill. We were thinking $200-$250! We don't do those kinds of rooms....EVER! The bill was $94! A Ten star establishment for an amazing five star price. The night before we had stayed in a charming little $35 cubbie hole. The school bed & breakfast was a extra bonus! A delight and a surprise! A place we'll remember and to which we want to return .