Day 18: Pekin, IL to Cape Girardeau, MO

RIP Geoffrey Chaucer

Good day on the road today, easy driving — dad even took a turn, which is great! — but tonight I received terrible news: Mom found my beloved yellow cat Geoffrey around the corner in the grass. Geoff-Man was one of the most amazing cats ever, sweet and kind, always playful and always ready to snuggle. I miss him so much my stomach hurts.

Tonight ate at a brewpub/restaurant three blocks from our hotel called Minglewood. The beer was pretty good (we shared a Hefeweizen) and the giant Bavarian style pretzel and beer cheese sauce was OK, but the “Philly Cheesesteak” was a large, micro-thin slab of cold roast beef with beer cheese and raw onions on a cold, hard roll. Having had Philly Cheesesteak in other cities, I have to say that this was just about the worst example of that sandwich I’ve ever eaten. (The pickle was good, though.) I give this meal a solid C- rating, or possibly even a D+. <frowny face>

Going to try and get some sleep without crying. Tomorrow I can weep in my own bed. Hope everyone out there sleeps well. Send up a little prayer for an amazing cat and his miserable mistress.