Around the Next Turn???

Well, I sure know how to pick the weather. Riding across PA,OH and IN was a real treat with temps at near 98 and bright sun. I guess I should be thankful for the sun, as it surely will not continue as KS is forcast to have thunderstorms. UGH!
My route was out the PA Turnpike to I-70 and then slab it to Indianapolis. I was amazed at the number of full truck treads along the highway. I bet I never went a mile the entire trip and did not see one. I don't mean the little chunks.. I mean the full size ones. I guess the heat really reaks havoc with retred tires. I was amazed that I only saw one truck along side the road, so I guess most just shed the rubber and keep on going. Comforting thought if one should blow as I am passing. Well you know me.. I really hate driving across the mid west, so I decided to push it and get as far as possible on the first day. I ended up at around 800 miles and was about 125 miles east of Saint Louis at 2:00 a.m. when I stopped. I had stopped at a KOA earlier and they were closed. A price list showed that a tent site with no electric or anything was $31. I had passed hotels advertising $29. Where did cheap camping go? I guess I have been away from the industry for some time. No one was around and I thought about taking a dip in the pool to cool of then just leave, but I thought better of it. I headed back out on the interstate and ended up staying at a rest stop. For those unitiated among you the "Iron Butt Hotel is sleeping along side your bike in a rest stop or better yet along side the road. Well I cheated as Indiana rest stops have nice "big" concrete picnic tables where I could put my thermarest pad. Need I say I don't fit on small picnic tables? I envisioned ending up in a pile on the ground in the middle of a dead sleep, but I don't think I ever moved. It was surprisingly cool under the trees and a nice breeze was blowing. I put in my ear plugs, covered with my sleeping bag and slept until 8:00 a.m. Most of the truck were gone. I guess I was tired. Fortunately the truck engine fumes were blowing away from me and the gentle idling engines were a pleasant background for my dreams of the Rocky Mountains ahead. If you have never tried the Iron Butt... I advise against it, as there are all sorts of people traveling the interstates these days.. but this evening it was a bunch of trucks, me and a VW Camper van. No flowers on it, but the guy and girl in it looked much like modern day hippies. Hey, they are out there exploring the US God bless them. On an interesting note... I had stopped for lunch at a McD's and there was a guy there that bought a dollar burger and drank about ten glasses of water. He looked to be in pain from open sores on his legs and all crippled up. He was about my age and you know me, I talk to anyone and everyone. He was really very interesting and was a veteran of VN and had traveled extensively. I thanked him for his service to the country and we just chatted for about an hour. When it came time to leave, he pulled his bicycle up to the curb to help himself get on and just rode off down the street still drinking his water. He had a plastic bag with some clothes tied to the handlebar and I am guessing not much else. I felt guilty riding off on my motorcycle. I have a feeling there are more people like this among us that we never even notice most of the time. God bless him.