The next day was more of the same. I stopped at a place called Rose’s Grocery in Golconda, Illinois. Guy Rose, the proprietor, gave me some hot rice and soy sauce on the house.

I ducked into a restaurant for lunch at Elizabethtown. Two 30-ish women, Linda and Sharon, came in to say hello. They were touring also. I left them a copy of “Wisdom.”

Motels and I were becoming good friends. I stopped at the Tourotel in Marion that evening, and stuffed myself at Druther’s all-you-can-eat across the street.

A heat rash was beginning to develop all over me. I tried Lanacane, but found it to be useless. Hydrocortisone seemed to help.

i got a large, comfortable room at the tobin tourotel for $21, including tax. the fish and salad bar at druther’s was $3.79. all you can eat tacos and deep fried vegetables. i had 4 tacos – which was probably too much, as i felt weighed down the next morning.