OMG it's hot

We are at the Murphysboro Lake State Park, just west of Murphysboro, Illinois (map). This park was just three miles off our planned route, and offers 50-amp power for just $20 per night. We needed that power, as it was 105° when we pulled up around 4pm, and it's already in the mid-90s this morning. Today's high is forecast to be 108°.

From what we can see, it's a lovely park. I walked around a bit yesterday evening, after temperatures had dropped into the low 90s. It's under heavy tree cover, so we are only online courtesy of a tiny gap in the trees and judicious selection of site -- this was the second one we tried. We are on a little peninsula surrounded by lake, but swimming is prohibited here, no matter how inviting it looks in the heat.

For in-route camping, three miles is actually further from our route than we normally deviate. But inexpensive power outlets are few and far between in this part of the state, and this was really the best we could do. We just figure the site cost us five bucks or so more -- still a bargain when we need the power. Yesterday's route brought us out of East Saint Louis on Illinois 15, and Illinois 13 brought us all the way to Murphysboro, west of Carbondale.

In a few minutes we will get back underway, so we are not driving in the hottest part of the day. Our engine alternator, enormous as it is, can only run two air conditioners at a time -- the one in the cockpit, plus one upstairs. Our reserved campsite at Barkley Lake also supplies 50 amps, so we should be comfortable all day. Plus, that site is a short walk from the swimming beach, and I am betting the lake will feel very refreshing. We do need to make one quick stop along the way, to replenish supplies.