May 11th is overcast, and soon after setting out it begins to rain heavily. This keeps up all day. It stays hot as well. You make good time, though. The road is much more heavily travelled, though, and you frequently pass others. By late afternoon the road is running right alongside the Mississippi, which is over 12 miles wide at this point. As evening comes on the rain peters out and you find yourselves in a region of farms and pastures.