Supermax

You dirty rat. John Gotti was ratted out by Sammy "the bull" Gravano, and ended up here in Marion, Ill, home of the federal Super Max prison. We're here also, only a couple of miles from the penitentiary. Built as a replacement for Alcatraz and finished in 1963, Marion housed the worst criminals of the time, until the prison in Florence, Co. opened as the new supermax. After a prison riot in 1983, every prisoner was in solitary confinement until 1987, due to 2 guards being killed. After Florence took on the worst prisoners, Marion now houses drug or gambling offenders, which have included Manuel Noriega and Pete Rose. We rolled into town about 3pm, after a lunch at Pizza Hut in search of something green at the salad bar. Didn't find much green.

We left Bob and Randy's at 9am, and had a nice ride into Carbondale, home of Southern Illinois University, the Saluki's. Does anyone know what a saluki is? It was 70 miles, the weather is hot but today was much nicer than the last two, a little overcast. There are no hills to speak of down here in southern Illinois, so we cruise along at around 15 mph. The yellow bag on the back has more in it than we want, and we are considering sending back a package in the mail. I've got some kind of heat rash on my legs from too much sun, otherwise health is good all around. We're a little sore, but at our age that is expected I guess. Tomorrow's plan is a little uncertain, due to the fact that we can't figure out a combination of mileage and motels that work. Looks most likely we will get about 60mi east of here, stopping somewhere around the Ohio river. Any one following on the map, we took 127 out of Nashville, then turned east on 13 to Marion.

Our eyes are now a little slanted, and with my new haircut it is very attractive. We ate at a Chinese restaurant that was most excellent tonight. It was a far cry from the diners we have grown used to. Big O is running smoothly, although we worry a little about the idler that was repaired on the road in Iowa with the farmer's spare parts. Around here if you break down on the road, you look for someone in a striped jumpsuit to help you out. And a Saluki is a dog that looks like a greyhound. It is one of the oldest breeds, going back 7000 years. Also known for being faster than a greyhound, it is not interested in chasing the electronic rabbit, so it can't be used to race. Hope all is well back in the real world, we don't see much of that. But speaking of the real world, today is the sixth anniversary for my son Tim and favorite daughter Dora, so very much congrats and love to you both.