Day Three: Hoosier Daddy?

Day Three: Hoosier Daddy?

Our initial impression of Indiana was cold, wet and unfriendly, although I can imagine that’s not so unusual for those who have ridden through the state during a thunderstorm. In the daylight, the Hoosier state’s landscape seemed a lot like Ohio before it an Illinois after it – farms, flat, barns, cows, wheat, flat, corn, did I mention flat?

The day began cloudy and overcast, and when standing still, the humidity in the air felt like a heavy wet sponge. Luckily there was only one rain event, which, of course, required gear.  After lunch, which was at Logsdon’s Restaurant in Boonville, the sun came out and decided it was going to stay out for good. The rest of the ride was bright, sunny, and uneventful.

Illinois, the Land of Lincoln, was next, followed by Missouri, where we stopped for the night.  

So, in honor of Indiana’s Hoosier Daddy, David Letterman, here’s the Top Ten Things I Never Knew About Indiana:

10.       The rain was just as wet in Indiana this year as it was in West Virginia last year

9.         You can smell the cows before you see them

8.         You are not required to wear a motorcycle helmet in Indiana, even when you’re riding a motorcycle.

7.         Richard Gatling of Indianapolis invented the machine gun in 1862.

6.         Dunkin’ Donuts seems to be an urban myth in this state. We never saw one.

5.         There’s a town called Santa Claus. We’re not sure if Rudolph is the mayor.

4          Like David Letterman, James Dean was also born in Indiana.

3.         Peru, Indiana was once known as the “Circus Capital of the World”.

2.         Indiana means “Land of the Indians”. (Okay… I already knew that…)

And the number one thing we didn’t know about Indiana,

1. There isn't one billboard toasting David Letterman as Indiana's favorite son.

Sorry, big guy.

One sad note, as we moved along the Mississippi River towards Cape Girardeau, Missouri, we could see some of the destruction done by the floods. Entire farms were still under water. As we passed, we heard a spot for the local Harley dealer who is selling raffle tickets for a new bike, with proceeds going to support the families displaced by the flood.  One guess where we’ll make our first stop tomorrow…….