A C172 PLT DSNDED IN IMC WITHOUT A CLRNC MHE VOR.

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AFTER FLYING 2 HRS (PREVIOUS LEG THAT MORNING WAS 3.6 HRS); I CONTINUED TO FLY OVER A DEVELOPING CLOUD LAYER. I OBSERVED LARGE AREAS IN THE CLOUD LAYER SEVERAL MI AHEAD. I MONITORED TFC BELOW AND ESTIMATED THAT THERE WAS A 2000 FT CEILING WITH THE TOP OF THE LAYER ABOUT 2000 FT ABOVE THAT. I WAS ALSO MONITORING THE WX AT MY NEXT FUEL STOP AND DETERMINED IT WOULD BE BEST TO STOP EARLY WHILE I COULD PENETRATE THE CLOUD LAYER. (CRUISE AT 9500 FT MSL; CLOUD LAYER BELOW AT 3500 FT MSL BASE AND 5500 FT MSL TOP; A CLOUD LAYER ABOVE 12000 FT MSL WITH ABOUT 1/4 SKY COVERAGE.) UPON DSNDING TO ONE OF THE LARGE; HAZY HOLES IN THE CLOUD LAYER; I DISCOVERED THAT THE HOLES WERE ACTUALLY SHADOWS FROM THE HIGHER CLOUDS. RATHER THAN TURN BACK (PLENTY OF FUEL); I PICKED AN ALT BELOW WHICH I WOULDN'T CONTINUE DSNDING. (I BELIEVE THIS JUDGEMENT ERROR WAS RELATED TO RELATIVELY LITTLE SOLO XCOUNTRY AND THE FLT DURATION. I MADE A DECISION AND STUCK WITH IT.) I HAD CURRENT ALTIMETER SETTING. LNDG WAS MADE WITHOUT MISHAP. CEILINGS WERE AS RPTED (2000 FT AGL).