Going through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois means you were headed into the wind most of the time. Having grown up in central Illinois I can tell you that by afternoon there is a strong wind out of the west most days. Personally, my recommendation would have been for a more angled route if you really wanted to see the corn fields, otherwise heading northeast would probably have worked out better since you'd have the wind at your back while heading uphill and you'd go into the wind while going downhill.