Great Race 2025

Day 2 and Day 3

Sunday, June 22nd we started our morning in Rochester, MN. There has been a heat wave the last three days and it has been warm. We started our morning about 6:30am and it was already in the low 80s.

Each morning we are given a set of instructions and draw a number for our next days starting line up. While Brad picks up the instructions, I have my ritual at the car of checking the tire pressure and cleaning the windows, making sure we have enough water and snacks.

After completing my tasks, I waited for Brad while he picked up our instructions. I watched several nurses walk by, and it reminded me of the amazing work they do at The Mayo Clinic, and how lucky we are to have a place like Mayo in our country.

Brad and I started our day heading South toward Iowa. It was hard to tell when we crossed over from Minnesota into Iowa. We were on farm roads all day, and the corn is already higher than knee high. It is mind boggling to see how much corn and soy we produce.

Many have referred to these states as the “fly over states”, but truly, they are the bread basket. These are the states that feed us.

We ended the day driving to Moline, Illinois. We drove across the Mississippi from Davenport, Iowa into Moline. The bridge across the river is the state line.

Brad saw a local ferry and thought we should see Moline from the river, so we decided to take a ride (it was cooler on the water). We road the ferry to all its stops and enjoyed the sites on the river.

There were beautiful old homes on the waterfront in Davenport. While on the Moline side it was mostly hotels and industry. The John Deere Pavilion is where we finished the day in Moline.

Monday, June 23rd we started the morning across the street from The John Deere Pavilion, and headed toward central Illinois. We were having lunch in Pontiac, Illinois.

The morning was still warm. We crisscrossed through the farm land seeing livestock, lots more corn and soy.

We stopped for lunch in Pontiac, where they converted an old Hostess Wonderbread bakery into a restaurant.

Unfortunately, we never stay long in the host lunch city. We typically use the bathroom grab a water and turn right around.

We drove through small Americana towns with Main Streets and little houses with flags hanging off front porches, and perfectly cut grass with flowers lining their paths.

We drove toward Springfield, Illinois. The land of Lincoln is represented in Springfield, the state’s capitol. Lincoln’s home is based in Springfield, as is his Presidential Library.

Unfortunately, we did not have time to see either, but we look forward to visiting both next year when we start the race in Springfield.