Happy New Year

We woke up this morning and put one of the morning talk/news shows on the TV. The reporter was standing in Times Square and the snow and sleet was flying and it looked absolutely frigid. Susan and I opened our slider to the balcony and, after watching the sun come up, took our coffee and tea out to our chairs and sat and simply luxuriated in the warmth of the morning sun and its reflection on the ocean. I cannot remember a more auspicious start to new year's eve. Breakfast out of the way I headed out for another ride on A1A, the coastal route in Southern Florida. It is the height of tourist season and so this two-lane highway has been crowded with heavy traffic the last couple of times I've been out but the road also has real bike lanes on most of it so it is bearable. However, for some reason, maybe because it was cloudy and overcast when I started, the highway traffic was light this morning. I don't think that I have ever in my life been on a bike on New Year's eve - too cold, too snowy where I come from - and so I find myself heading for Palm Beach in 70 degree weather (the sun soon came out and it was 82 when I finished) and pinching myself all the way - this can't be real. A few days ago I also hit the 5,000 mile mark for this year. To be honest, my original goal was 10,000 miles but a motorcycle in Ohio forced a couple of revisions. Actually I'm really pretty pleased with the 5K - I have done that only once before and for awhile this year I thought that even that would be out of reach. More to the point I think is that I had a great ride today - about 50 miles and felt like doing more when I finished. I might not have predicted that a few months ago. Much as the accident in June consumed time and energy and attention it was not the real point. I had the adventure of my life with XC09 even if it was shortened a bit. I rode with some really great cyclists and, probably not entirely by coincidence, some really great people. We saw deserts, mountains, the "amber waves of grain", the backroads and small towns of America - and I wouldn't trade that for anything. And on that note I wish all (or both of you) who may read this a very happy and prosperous 2010.

Florida Cycling

When we were doing the XC ride we had a couple of folks from Florida and we all wondered how they could train for the mountains and the climbing we had to do through the Western states especially. So I finally managed to get out on the roads here in Florida today and I think that it may just be irrelevant. The day was so nice - sunny and temps somewhere around 75 - that I think the hills just don't matter. When you can ride all winter and also go as far as you want then I think maybe the frequency and distances more than makes up for the lack of hills. Which I did notice on the ride by the way: think of Nancy who conquered everything with style and grace. Anyway I took off on Highway A1A on the Eastern coast this morning and felt like I was joinging a bicycle parade. There were literally hundreds of riders on the road flying both north and south with the Atlantic on one side and the Intercoastal on the other. I started in Hillsboro Beach and headed north - there was a headwind and I wanted it on a my back for the return trip. The road is flat, the traffic horrendous (lots of "cue tips" pulling out of condominium driveways) but they have decent bike lanes most of the time and there are so many other bikes on the road that drivers are at least aware. Thanks to the weather in New Jersey I haven't been on the bike in a couple of weeks and so my plan was to do maybe 30 miles and come back another day. However my computer kept quitting on me and I lost track of how far I went. When I got to the city limits of Palm Beach I decided it might be time to turn around. So I ended up doing a nice little fifty mile hike and was actually ready for more...Nice day, nice ride - I could get used to this.

24 and 24...

I've titled this little entry 24 and 24 because first it is about 24 degrees - without the wind chill factor - and because we have officially 24 inches of snow. And it snowed almost around the clock, 24 hours.

The lower photo is a bit of our back yard and deck - you need snowshoes to navigate. The second photo Susan took on my return from the morning ride - other than dodging snowplows it wasn't too bad...

I hoped to do a century but wanted to get back and shovel snow...gotta be tough to be cyclist in New Jersey....

No cycling today....

This is the scene from the bottom of our driveway as of a few minutes ago. And the weather folks are telling us this is just the beginning, that with just a little luck we could see up to 15 inches of this stuff by tomorrow morning. This is the path that I normally take to get out my neighborhood and out to the country - I don't think I would make it to the next driveway. Although I must say that returning from a "milk and bread run" an hour ago I did see someone on a mountain bike who appeared to be successfully navigating one of our unplowed streets. Maybe he had studded tires?

One of the last reminders of my encounter with the motorcycle is my back so I'm wielding the shovel with great care. We have a little electric snow blower that I usually bypass in favor of the exercise but I think it may get pressed into service today. So to all of you Californians, Texans, and Floridians enjoy your tropical temps and sunshine today and think of us cold easterners perched on our indoor bikes spinning away with the blizzard outside.

Cycling with football...

Another cold and windy day in NJ - I want my sunny days back. I don't mind riding in the cool weather but my threshold is at about 40 degrees and no wind. When the wind chill factor drops below 40 the bike remains on the hooks. And so I have just finished my third session this week on the indoor bike. I have it set up in front of the TV in our catch-all TV-Computer-Exercise room. The truth be told I hate the indoor cycling: it is boring, kind of mindless, excercise for the sake of excercise. I feel good when it is over but the process really puts me off. I turn on the TV and watch either one of the news stations or a sports station. I have found that I can usually find a "classic" football game, i.e. one from the 80s or 90s and since I usually have no clue who won it is like watching the game fresh. The best plays for cycling are the running plays. As the runner twists and turns through the line and into the open field I start applying my own body english and I find myself increasing intensity and pushing harder, almost like going up hill as I change into a tougher gear. Long passes can be good too but tend to be more momentary - the receiver stretches and I tend to go up with him but then he falls back to earth and I'm back on the seat and just spinning waiting for the next play.... And so I've worked up a sweat for today, feel good about getting some exercise and its time to get a shower and move on with the day - how I envy those Californians who can go out almost every day.

Happy Thanksgiving...

No photo today and no ride either but I would feel like something was missing if I did not at least acknowledge the spirit of thanksgiving day. We are hosting the traditional dinner today with Kelli and family and Katherine and her family and I am very aware of how lucky I am to be here and celebrating. I am very tempted to make the cracked helmet a part of the centerpiece of the dining room table (except for the fact that Susan would probably chase me out of the house if I tried it). I know I am stating the obvious but I have much to be thankful for this year: certainly and most simply my life; and then all of the things that we so often take for granted. My wife Susan who has stood by my throughout these past few months, my daughters and my step-children, my grandchildren. I appreciate the fact that I can wake up this morning and be a part of this wonderful life more than ever before. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And to all who might read this, my wish is that you too have the best of all possible days today and every day.

Back on the roads - again

As I suspected the cataract surgery did require a few days of recuperation but it was not nearly as bad as I had anticipated. I found out that cataract surgery is the most prevalent form of surgery in the United States - I cannot now recall the exact numbers but it is somewhere in the low millions every year. And while it is surgery and is performed in an operating room it is really not much more than what is involved in a typical eye exam. The entire procedure took little more than half an hour and the entire pre-op/post-op took just about two hours - including the coffee and cookies in the recovery room.

I have told a couple of people that counting all the time I've had with various medical professionals over the past six months I'm beginning to feel like some one's trusty old Volvo - shows a lot of miles on the odometer but still runs pretty good and the mechanics keep patching and fixing the little breakdowns and it is back on the road and ready for another trip.

I actually got the bike out on Sunday, a beautiful day after three or four days of rain and warm enough for short sleeves. Today was a little cooler but still nice for mid-November. I'm still rediscovering some the roads I have not seen since early spring and today's pictures are taken from along a couple of those roads in Hunterdon county.

And like Ira I typically ride alone but today discovered a potential partner (as did he in a post a couple of days ago). He is kind of on the skinny side, almost flimsy you might say, so he is not much help when you are looking for a draft. But he certainly doesn't slow you down either and with just a bit of a tail wind he can be an absolute inspiration.

Spring in November

No photos today although I did regret not taking my camera at the end. The last two days have seen most unusual weather for New Jersey in November. Yesterday hit 70 with full sun all day and today was high sixties with just a few scattered clouds. I blew and raked leaves on Saturday, dragging them out to the curb so that I could establish a clear conscience and the right to ride. Yesterday was a forty mile day and I was comfortable in shorts and jersey. And since it was Sunday there were also a ton of cyclists on the roads. I was riding alone but part of the fun is being able to wave at others and be a part of the crowd. At one point yesterday I was climbing a long-ish kind of hill and caught up with another guy, probably about my age, and gave him a "howyadoin" as I passed him. I paused at the top for a drink and a fig newton. And as he paused a moment before passing he said he had had a fall a couple of weeks ago and was still struggling with the effort of getting back into the cycling...I could only say "I know how you feel" and more than you might guess. And so today - another perfect day - I went out with Tom, first time I've ridden with anybody since I've been back on the bike. I have just needed to do my own pace, be able to pick my routes according to how I feel, and to pack it in when I felt like it. So this morning I put on my XC jersey and took off. I knew Tom wasn't going to push but still, I felt the need to ride a respectable pace and choose a decent route. We ended up wandering over some familiar roads, picking up a couple of new ones, and finally going after the more challenging (hill) portion of Lindberg road. And it turned out to be a great ride...no pain, I could hold my own on both pace and the hills and we did a respectable 44 miles. Although, to be completely honest, I do come home and grab a couple of Advil, my new best friend, before I head for the shower. And I think I will now have a couple or three days of no riding no matter the weather. Tomorrow I have a meeting with our eye doc for cataract surgery. He makes it sound very routine but I suspect I will be taking a couple days hiatus from the bike...

A little easier....

Another great New Jersey fall day - and there are deer in that field - really! The second is a pretty little pond where the swan rules. And as you might guess from the leaves we still have color but the peak is definitely behind us. A couple of days of rain last week followed by just a bit of wind and most of the leaves are now on the ground. Not a great thing for the leaf-peepers but not such a bad thing for people (like me) who have a ton of leaves to blow and rake out to the street.

Today was kind of a rehab milestone, of which I've had a few recently. I headed east toward Assunpink and Allentown - lots country roads but not too many big hills. And for the first time I did just a bit better than fifty miles - and aside from the usual creaking of bones I feel pretty good tonight. And in addition to the photos I had a red-tail hawk fly just a few feet above me trying to hold onto his lunch: a squirrel that dropped right into my path (but was obviously beyond saving). And I also spotted a red fox running through the edge of weathered corn field. These guys are pretty good at staying hidden but they are a pretty sight when they make a rare appearance. And once again I'm reminded of the reasons I enjoy cycling so much. Beyond the sheer physical pleasure of the turning crank and rolling wheels the sights of the countryside are simply a gift. I go home feeling peaceful, my head clear, and my spirit more alive with that sense of joy the afternoon in this wonderful world can provide....And the weekend ahead promises to be very nice - maybe I'll make it to the covered bridge.

Fall colors are still with us...

The sun was kind of in and out today but still a great day for riding the back roads in Mercer and Hunterdon counties. The temps were in the mid-fifties but no wind. I left the house thinking I would head for Sergeantsville and the last remaining covered bridge in NJ, a very scenic spot in the fall. However I'm still kind of taking my cycling temperature every time I go out and at about fifteen miles I decided that I wasn't up for a sixty mile ride and cut it back to about forty. As you can see from the pictures though you can't go wrong with any route: every road is just so nice at this time of year. So, even though I was tempted to stop and make a photo every mile or so here are just a few - and extra points will be awarded for anyone who spots deer in the shot (Jim, don't get distracted by the girls in bikinis).

I'm still re-discovering some of the familiar roads I've taken for years but have not ridden for the past six months. In a way I feel like I'm making up for lost time but also it's a great feeling to take the new bike over some of the rollers and s-curves that make up these roads. My ankle still feels a bit weak but amazingly my back, which still tires easily, has no problem at all with the bike position. It will be a while before I can comfortably do a century but to paraphrase an old truism, I'm just glad to be doin' it....

New Jersey in the fall...

Another perfect fall day - sunny, temps in the low 60s, and the colors are close to peak. And so I headed out to play two-wheels leaf-peeper. One of the great things about Lawrenceville is that from our house I can hit the road and be out in true country in a matter of about five miles (trivia time: our mayor is a farmer on the edge of the town limits). My goal today was the Sourland Mountains which is mostly preserved land with scattered country houses and small farms. And lest anybody jump to conclusions, let it be known that New Jersey is not really a mountainous state. We have lots of rolling hills but the high point in the entire state is only about 1200 feet of elevation. We therefore tend to be somewhat liberal in what we call "mountains." The Sourlands could also be described as just a whole bunch of rocky hills but that does not sound as romantic. In any case it is a region with lots of trees, wildlife (deer and an occasional black bear), and a couple of pretty little streams - great place to ride and take a few pictures. It was the first time since starting up on the bike again that I have gone after any kind of real hills but I must be getting stronger because I enjoyed every minute - and I have yet to test the granny gear on the new bike.

One of the neat little moments today was moving down one of the no-shoulder roads on an uphill section. I guess I was focused on the road more than the scenery because out of the corner of my eye I caught a sudden movement which turned out to be a deer who apparently didn't see me either. He (or she) was feeding at the edge of the road and I got to within five feet when he saw me and jumped almost straight up and then made an abrupt right turn and headed off into the woods with his buddy. Another reason why I love cycling...would never have that experience in a car.

The pictures are all in the Sourlands except the shot with the blue sky and white fence. That is on the edge of Lawrenceville and is actually the site of one of the last grass airports in the United States. It had been there since the early 20th century and, in fact, Charles Lindbergh had used it years ago (his house in the Sourlands was the scene of the Lindbergh baby kidnapping in the early thirties). The owner was in his mid-eighties and and sold it about a year ago. Fortunately it will be developed as soccer fields for the local kids and not as another suburban plot of colonials.

So for the day...forty three miles, a tad under 15 mph average, and the new bike is still an absolute joy. I'm a little sore tonight but I think that is going to be part of life for awhile - nothing that a couple of Advil cannot remedy.

Deja vu all over again...

And again, and again, and again...That line is attributed to Yogi Berra but is also the thought that was running through my head today. Being back on the bike and riding the familiar roads that stretch out from Lawrenceville - it is hard to express what a great feeling it is. Today was simply a gorgeous day. After a cloudy start the sun came out, the temperature was somewhere in the low 70s, and with the fall colors of New Jersey I couldn't have had a better day for a ride if I had designed it myself. When I picked up the new bike a couple weeks ago the shop was out of computers - no big deal since all I wanted to do was get in a quick ride to make sure I could still do it without toppling over. However, a couple of rides later I wanted to have my "numbers fix" and so I picked up the computer and put it on the bike this morning. I'm not really obsessed with numbers but I do like to know how far, how fast, and how much time so I felt like the new bike was now complete. Today was actually my sixth ride (so who's counting?) since I picked up the bike. I've progressed from an initial 20 miles to 35 today and at a 15 mph average - not bad for a recovery ride. I was officially "graduated" from physical therapy on Tuesday but still have a bit of swelling in the ankle and leg and a few other miscellaneous aches and pains that will pass eventually. I don't think I'm ready for a century yet (although maybe by year-end...) but I feel amazingly comfortable on the bike - no back pain, the ankle is still a bit weak but not painful, and my balance is good. Needless to say I feel very lucky. And speaking of deja vu...I was watching my speed over the first 10/15 miles of my ride today and was more than a little surprised at how well I was doing - 20 and 22 mph when I went into the big ring (and no, it wasn't all downhill) and averaging 16+. However, somewhere around the 15 mile mark I made my turn and started heading back home and - you guessed it - discovered the head wind I would have most of the way home. For a minute I actually thought I was back in Texas or Kansas where we woke up almost every morning to some degree of headwinds. Tomorrow is a rest day but next time out I will take the camera and add a few photos of New Jersey fall colors.

And with a matching helmet...

That is a bike that just finished it's maiden voyage - the first trip of what I hope will be many miles. I had my fitting yesterday, picked up the bike this morning and was on the road within the hour. I didn't go far - maybe 20 miles - but it felt like the ride of the year for me. The bike is a Cannondale Synapse and it is truly a dream bike. It is light as a feather (and you might notice I went out without the added weight of the seat pack - no flats fortunately) and is a marvel to ride. But for me even more of a marvel was that I am on any bike and enjoying it. I started out with a tour of the closed circuit of our neighborhood. I ran through my mental checklist: turn, shift your weight, clip in and clip out, stop, avoid the potholes etc, etc...I turned out onto the street with "real" traffic watching for everything. I headed into the first intersection with a traffic light and a left turn lane with just a bit of trepidation - a lot of double-checking (is that redundant?) before I moved into the left turn lane. And I must say that once that little hurdle was passed it was all good. The bike is without doubt the best - I felt like Lance moving along the road. The ankle and leg felt good and I loved every curve and little rise the the road gave me.

It is so good to be back....

The bike is on the way...

No picture today but I did get some good news that is worth a post...I went back to the lab for a test on the leg this morning and they found absolutely no trace of the clot!!! That is something I've been waiting for since Columbus and I practically did a little jig in the exam room. I promised myself that when the clot finally disappeared and I could discontinue the blood thinners (coumidin) I would be at the bike store at the opening bell. So tomorrow I will be taking my wheels (they did survive the crash) and heading up the road to Halters Bikes. I have picked out the bike - Cannondale Synapse - and the only decision is to go with red or blue....and I think I can handle that. It seems like it has been a long time but when I reflect a bit on how lucky I was it really hasn't been so bad. I have still have a couple more weeks of therapy - six weeks of inactivity robs the leg/ankle of almost all flexibility and it takes time to get it back. I also still have a bit of stiffness in the back but I'm spending about 30 minutes a day on the indoor bike and having no problem with that....It is a great feeling to be getting back to some sense of normality: to go up stairs, to get in and out of the car, to walk with ease. I'm very appreciative of the simple things these days. And to any who are still reading thanks much for your good wishes and support - all that was no small thing along the way. Next entry will be Ride Day!

Goodby to all that....

And so how did we get into August already? And not only "into" but almost finished. It will be time for falling leaves and pumpkins in not too many days.

I had an appointment with the orthopedist yesterday and passed another big target on my recovery timeline. I'm out of the aircast, can walk and go up stairs without crutches - I even had the battery charged and am driving again (no small thing with a stick shift). So I'm bidding farewell to all the walkers, crutches, boots and casts that have sustained me over the last couple of months. I start physical therapy next week and expect that will go for about four weeks or so. I've still got a bit of swelling and I have a ways to go before my back muscles are back to normal - but the end is in sight.

I saw a great quote the other day: "Life expands or contracts in direct proportion to one's courage". I don't know that I have ever thought of myself as particularly courageous - I do know that I have an almost biologic fear of heights, nothing will get me on the roof -but I do think there is something to think about in that statement. One of the many thoughts I had while pedalling cross country was the idea of reaching out, taking the risk, grabbing the ring when you go by. We had some tough days in the course riding Los Angeles to Ohio (my portion) but I would not trade the longest, toughest climb, the coldest, rainiest day for the experience of covering 2,500 miles on my bike.

And today I celebrated the new found mobility by checking out my local bike shop. The Cannondale 6/13 is out of production but the Synapse is an even better, absolutely beautiful bike(Jim, if you are still reading, you were right). It is too soon to think about test rides but just looking at bikes and actually handling the model of choice was worth the trip...And maybe I will even have a photo for the next post....

Moving on....

The box sat in the garage unopened for several days. I had some advice from a very good source that I shouldn't even open it - just put the whole box out at the curb and let them haul it away. A few days ago my son-in-law came down to do the lawn and together we opened the box and pulled out what is left of the bike. Curiously enough I had no emotional reaction whatsoever. I noticed immediately that there are more fractures to the bike than to my personal frame - there were five breaks to the bike that I could see, an x-ray would probably pick up a few more. So I have salvaged the wheels (can you believe I began the morning of 6/15 by changing the front tire, I had changed the rear tire the day before) and, of course, the seat pack with the road tools. So last night the bike went to the curb and this morning I looked out to see the trash truck moving down the street with the blue bike sitting on top of all the other rubbish. And so this morning, along with watching the Tour de France - a very exciting stage today by the way - I went into the Cannondale web site and clicked on the Synapse. They have discontinued the 6/13 which was easily my best bike ever but I found I can get pretty excited looking through the specs of the new models...again, not that I planned it that way but it does give me something to look forward to. I had an offer from someone (who must remain anonymous at this point) to serve as my SAG if and when I return to Ohio to finish what I started in May. I don't know how or when but that is the kind of encouragement that gets me through these days of too much confinement. And, another thought that is a bit overdue...From the moment I went into the hospital Susan has been the support I could not have survived without. She spent ten days in Columbus and through a couple of really awful nights was there for me in ways that the hospital people just couldn't match. And since I have been home she has been my constant attendant....I know that that is what marriage is supposed to be about but there are no words for me say thanks for her support and help....She is terrific. And today's update: I can put weight on the leg so long as I use crutches and keep the boot/cast on the leg. I cannot climb ladders but at least I can climb the stairs and move around the house with a bit more independance - hurray! I am still battling the clot but have finally discontinued the shots in the belly and just taking the coumidin every day. Eventually that will go away too. There are still so many e-mails floating back and forth from folks on the ride that it still seems like just a couple of days ago that the ride ended - a truly marvelous group of people. Stay tuned -I am looking forward to the day I'm back on the road.

Moving on....again

I had hoped to get another photo for my most recent mode of transport but, alas, I'm not moving too quickly these days and the opportunity passed. In four weeks I have gone from bike to helicopter to ambulence and, most recently, to a new Saturn SUV. My brother Dick came down from Michigan - two Michigan people in the heart of Buckeye country, there is safety in numbers - with his new Saturn and "sprung" me from the Westminster-Thurber rehab hospital. I did feel liberated but I must also say that finding that particular facility was one of the true lucky breaks of this past several weeks. The entire staff, the doctor, the nurses, the physical therapists, a wonderful social worker - they are all the most wonderful caring, compassionate group of people I have seen in a hospital setting. They got me through a few very tough days and then continued to encourage and teach me how to get back into the real world....I did have one final little setback in that I developed a clot in the bad leg while in the hospital. Initially that was more than a little scary but they are treating it with blood thinners and I hope to get that cleared up in the next three months or so. So Dick and the nurse kind of slid me into the back seat on Tuesday morning and we were off finally headed back to New Jersey. Susan had made the same trip a couple of weeks ago in one day but because I needed to make frequent stops to move both the leg and the body it took us two days. We arrived home on a beautiful late morning Wednesday to a huge bouquet of welcome home baloons and I almost burst into tears at the sight of it all. Susan came out for a hug and kiss and I realized very quickly how close to the surface are my emotions. Thursday we spent with medical people: the nurse who will draw blood and the doctor who will monitor my clot and blood level. And finally, the physical therapist who taught me how to go up and down the stairs on one leg and one crutch - a bit of a challenge but after four weeks in a hospital bed I wanted to lay on my own mattress. Today is another beautiful day and much of it has been spent on the back porch reading, listening to the birds, and just kind of reflecting on how good it is to be alive. It's easy to start feeling sorry for yourself when you are "stuck" like this (and I must confess to a couple of those moments) but the fact is I am healing, I'm lucky to have my wife looking out for me, and I know that in time I will be back up and moving, walking, and even riding. Today is the start of the Anchor House ride with all the riders riding the buses to upper New York state, I woke up this morning thinking about them - it's the first time in six years I have not been part of that ride - and will be looking forward to following the ride in the papers. And I watched the Tour de France this morning. They are in the mountains now and watching them attack the hills - and the descents as well - brought back flashes of our a few weeks ago. I'm not so naive as to compare myself to the TdF riders but we do have things in common: the love of the bike and the wonderful sensation of rolling under your own power over the roads, the great feeling of reaching the top after a long climb, and the equally great feeling of taking the descent that is the climb's reward. So I have not given up my thoughts of the bike...I look forward to a bit of mobility so that I can check out the bike shop and this year's version of the Cannondale 6/13. Stay tuned.....

Moving time...

So with the bike pretty much a wreck (the rider too but you already knew that) this is my new vehicle of choice. Don't have to worry about rain, has enough power to neutralize those persistent headwinds, and it sure does get you there in time for dinner. The folks at Medi Flight sent this to me so I thought I'd better get a photo in while I can.

They moved me out of the hospital yesterday and into a rehab hospital in Columbus. And, much as I really want to go home it was the right decision. I don't think I would have survived fifty miles in a car - actually I'm not at all sure I could get into a car. I met my the therapist today and she suggested I think in terms of at least a week. I don't have anything but praise and gratitude for the doctors at OSU but I have learned a few things about our healthcare system. Part of the job is to treat the immediate problem and then get you moving on as quickly as possible. Tuesday when they were telling me I could expect to go home on Thursday, I think what they really meant was that we are finished here and it is time to move on.

In any event the rehab center is terrrific so far. I compare it with what Susan had (when she had her knee replaced) and I think I have landed in the right place. The job now is to get mobile, get in and out of bed,, to master the walker and crutches. It does seem a little bit strange - last week at this time I was anticipating our last couple of centuries...wow.

I did go through a couple of the blogs today and it sounds like I missed a couple of tough days: lots of rain and more of those ugly headwinds. But the end is in sight guys-I wish each of you a safe and fun ride through New York, Vermont and on to Boston.....

A final note: Susan brought me my helmet today. I had graphic testimony of what I already knew. The helmet was not bad when looking at the outside. It had a few dents and scrapes but flipping it over was another story. There were four severe cracks in the liner and who knows how many that were not visible. Again that relatively minor investment was worth more to me than the few thousands I put into the bike - quite simply that helmet saved my life. I may have it framed and hung in a place of honor (maybe over the fireplace, although I suspect Susan might have some thoughts on that).

I don't think I'm through with this blog yet although I do not plan to document all my aches and pains over the next few weeks - maybe just a few progess reports..But I do need to say how much I have been affected by the supportive comments on both the blog and a few e-mails. You are people I know and people I don't know but I can hardly say how much your kind words and good wishes have meant to me - thank you all.

Ohio...a surprising state ...Part II

Today's title is a major understatement. For those who may not have heard my ride came to a dramatic and sudden end in the little town of Delaware. About 20 miles into the ride on Monday - scheduled at 97 miles to Wooster -I was preparing to make a left turn and somehow collided with a Harley Davidson coming from my rear - as you might guess a thousand pound motorcycles versus a 20 pound bike does not make for real good odds for the cyclist. I have virtually no memory of the accident so what I know now is based a couple of bits and pieces I've picked up from others. The first thing I remember was perhaps ten minutes after the crash when I looked up from the ground and saw a police officer crouched in front of me and one of my water bottles just beyond his foot. The next thing I knew they were strapping me to a board and loading me on a helicopter for a trip to the Ohio State University Med Center . Believe it or not one of my thoughts on the helicopter was that maybe I was banged up a little and if the bike was OK maybe I could be back on the road for Wednesday's ride....boy, was that ever naive. The bottom line is that the bike is history, cracked in several places, my helmet was broken in three different places, and I am more than just a little banged up. And by the way the helmet did it's job - there is no question that it saved my life. Relatively small investment with a huge return. I have not even had a headache since the accident. (And that may be the only place that is not hurting at this point.) Along with numerous aches and pains I have a broken left ankle (and was very grateful to avoid surgery), broken left leg in the non weight bearing bone (fibula), a crack in one of the thoracic vertebrae - again, fortunately just a crack, no structural damage. Beyong that some road rash and one cut that required stitches in the elbow. All in all it sure could have been a lot worse. My first meeting yesterday with the physical therapist was total disaster. My system is so messed up that I could not expand the effort required by the walker without fianlly passing out. We tried again today and things went much better - even with IVs I managed to climb a few stairs and get in a walk across the room with the walker, albeit laboriously and with help. And speaking of help....my brother Dick and Nancy came down from Detroit on Tuesday and left a couple of hours ago. Susan drove from L'vile with daughter Katherine (and Carolyn - all full of life and bounce at 18 months) Katherine also flew back today but Susan will hopefully be driving us home tomorrow.I told her a litttle while ago that while professional medical and nursing care is wonderful (and it is) a little TLC is absolutely priceless. I did enjoy doing this blog and loved the comments - thank you. And I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. In spite of some hard days and difficult weather at times the ride was about adventure and challenge and I truly had fun most of the time. I am pleased I did 2/3s of America on a bike and am indescibably disappointed that I am not doing the final segment. I saw this country and it's people in ways that you can only imagine from a car. I will be re-living this in my head for a long time. I also met an incredible group of people, the folks who did the ride with me. All of us of varying ages and abilities but united in a common purpose; it was truly like discovering a new family. I miss not seeing you in the morning for breakfast, not seeing you on the road, and certainly will miss not riding in formation to the Atlantic Ocean. I may still have a couple of things to say and may add another post or two. I need to do the math and tally uo the mileage as well as a few other thoughts that did not get into the daily blog. And I need to start shopping for a new bike...maybe that will be the next photo.

Ohio - a surprising state....

I have driven back and forth from New Jersey to Detroit via the Ohio Turnpike any number of times over the years. And the impression I have always had is of a long, straight, flat road with virtually nothing to see for miles and miles. Well, today we saw Ohio from a whole different perspective. The border was exactly 2.7 miles from our hotel and from the beginning it was great ride. We were on a series of state roads that curved and dipped and twisted and led us into quaint little old towns and through Ohio farm land - a scene that was totally unexpected for me.

The day started out overcast, and even a bit threatening as a couple of the pictures indicate. We did pick up a few drops but for the most part it was the sun peeking out from behind the clouds and considering that it was a 105 mile day the clouds were just enough to keep it from getting really hot.

We went through probably fifteen to twenty small towns all with their main streets and little business sections and older, well kept houses for the most part. The older houses are a delight to pass. Lots of wrap-around porches with swings and in most cases nicely landscaped with flowers and neatly cut lawns - almost picture perfect middle America. In all honesty there are a few towns that also show decay and problems but not many - and even those usually have signs that some one does care and is trying.

And I continue to be amazed at the farmhouses - the one house picture I put up tonight is one of the prettiest I saw today. And behind it was the barn and a couple of sheds with all the farm machinery neatly stowed away - and, of course, the whole thing was surrounded by hundreds of acres of growing corn and soy beans. These folks were also the owners of the cattle across the street - I thought it was pretty funny to find a longhorn in Ohio and he posed so nicely for me too.

We also had a few more glimpses of the Amish today. We saw a couple of buggys with the occupents dressed in their Sunday best and probably headed to services somewhere. More interesting, we came across a couple, man and wife presumably, riding a tandem bicycle in the same direction as we were heading. She had on the traditional long dress and he the beard and straw hat. They were just ahead of us on the road and they were moving. (For those not familiar with the Amish they do not drive cars - or have electricity or even tractors).

One of our SAG was in the little town of Covington in the police station parking lot...the picture is downtown Covington on Flag Day about noon - not much was happening besides the bike riders getting their rest stop.

I've had a long run without a flat - I think since New Mexico and that was only my second - but today my luck ran out. The unmistakeable and sudden hisssssssss had me to the side of the road very quickly. I had taken a good look at the front tire last night but somehow got distracted and did not move to the rear - big mistake. Anyway the back tire was pretty much shot so I replaced both tire and tube and we were back on the road. And was a good thing I had the new tire because within a mile we ran into a series of new chip and seal (very gravelly and tough on tires) and I felt much better with the new one.

And last little note on the ride...Somewhere around mile 87 we ran into a series of up and down hills and expected that we would have a kind of laborious process of finishing a long ride climbing. Well, Tom grabbed an energy jel and attacked one of the hills with a stand up in the pedals energy that caught me by surprise. I watched him for a second and then decided to respond and we were both off and running and for the next six or seven miles we litterally raced up and down the rolling hills like two ten year-olds on our first bikes. I have no idea where we found the strenth after 85/90 miles but we kept it up for about five or six miles hitting 20 and 22 mph and just having a ball. We finally came into a little town with a light and stopped to catch and then rolled on into Marysville for a DQ root beer float before checking into the hotel.

Tracy really outdid herself planning the route today - it was a long day but one of the best days of riding we have had. Now the only question is whether the legs will be there again tomorrow for a virtual century - 97 miles. Stay tuned....and good night.

Goodby Indiana...almost

Tonight we are in Richmond Indiana and a little less than 3 miles from the Ohio state line. I looked at the map after we got in and we are almost due south of Detroit which, of course, is where I grew up. If Michigan didn't have those two big lakes on either side our route could just as easily have taken us a bit north and I would be on a real nostalgia trip. As it is going through Indianapolis last night and then again when we left this morning still provides such a strong midwestern feeling I'm certainly feeling my roots. Many of the names on stores e.g., Krogers, Speedway, Marathon and some of the signs, e.g. a store advertising the price for a "six-pack of pop". I may have to order a Vernors when we go to dinner later tonight.

It took a bit of time to get out of Indianapolis this morning and I was glad it is a Saturday and we didn't have to contend with commute traffic. And once outside the city guess what we saw? Surprise: corn and more corn for as far we could see...again. It really seems like we have seen nothing but corn for weeks now. Although, to be completely honest, we do see soy beans occasionally and the infrequent horses and cows.

Sounds boring and in a way it lacks the drama of some of our western states but it is not too bad. We had another beautiful day for a ride: cloudy and cool for a couple of hours and then the sun and lots of blue sky. The roads were good, not much traffic and mostly flat and winding with only a bit of climbing. The small towns we almost flew through - most have maybe one traffic light and some only a four-way stop. In one town we saw Amish for the first time. We tend to think of the Amish only in Pennsylvania but many have emigrated to the midwest in the last few years. We passed a couple of horse and buggies and got a shy wave from the driver in his straw hat and plain blue shirt.

I rode most of today with Tom, Hank and Champ with whom I've ridden quite a bit over the weeks. Today we were joined by our newest rider, Sue who joined us in Champaign. Her claim to fame is that she rides a recumbent. She had an auto accident a couple years ago that resulted in a whiplash injury and she can no longer ride a conventional bike. I've seen recumbents many times but usually in passing and my prejudice has always been that they look heavy and clumsy. Sue puts those notions to rest...she stayed with us all day and handled the hills with ease. I took the picture at the SAG where she was demonstrating for a couple of fellow skeptics.

Somewhere around mile 70 we pulled in Centerville - how many Centervilles might there be in this United States - three traffic lights large and home of a great little lunch place. I had my usual root beer float (real ice cream) and a cheeseburger that was like something I might have made myself on the grill at home. And we met Jason who is five years old and has a red bike with training wheels that he says will come off soon. Jason allowed Champ to test ride his bike and then Jason himself posed for me before heading off down the sidewalk with his mom. One of the real highlights of this journey is meeting some very friendly people - America is filled with really good people.

And finally the car picture...There were several restored antiques around the hotel this morning and that one really caught my eye. The saying on the back and the fact that it is a 1938 Chevrolet which is one of the earliest cars I can remember - my dad had a '39 when I was young and my Aunt Mary had a '38. The owner came out just after I took the picture and he was indeed a grampa - bent over and at least 80 he was very proud of his toy.

Today was 83 miles and about 5 1/2 hours on the bike...Tomorrow we head into Ohio and are looking at 104 miles (followed by 97 the next day). They keep telling us that Ohio is surprisingly hilly - I guess we are about to find out.

"For want of a screw the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the bike was lost..."

And with apologies to William Shakespeare "for want of a shoe the ride was (almost) lost" That is the way my day began today. I pulled out of the hotel onto the highway and after successfully crossing began to clip into the pedals. The right shoe went in smoothly but the left just kept slipping around on the pedal. I pulled out of the pack of riders and into a driveway to check the problem and found I was missing a screw in the cleat on that left shoe. The cleat had twisted itself sideways and no way was it going to work. And for those who don't cycle, you could probably pedal without "clicking in" but it wouldn't be fun and you wouldn't want to do it for long. So I made a quick u-turn and headed back to the hotel where Tracy was just getting ready to shut the door on the truck and head out for whatever would have been her first stop on today's route. She said "no problem" and went immediately into her super-organized supply cabinets and came up with three different sizes of cleat screw. The second one was the winner and within fifteen minutes I was back out on the road. Of course by this time the group I was going to ride with was long gone and my thought was to catch up at either the first store they stopped for or at the SAG stop. By this time I was most definitely the last person out of the hotel by a good twenty minutes or so.

By the same token it was a nice cycling day - a bit of a cloud cover (but not the rainy kind) and just cool enough to be comfortable - so I really didn't mind heading out alone. Once we got out of town the country was much like what we saw yesterday - family farms, most corn, some hay and today for the first time I saw soy beans. Interesting that the corn in the fields varies from just barely coming out of the ground to some fields where it is already waist high. I'm guessing that they have had so much rain that the farmers' schedules were way off - some of the crop got planted early but for a lot they had to wait for the rain to stop before they could go out with their tractors.

Somewhere around the 20 mile point I did catch up with another group and jumped in with them for awhile. We had to wait a bit for a very long train to go through a little town whose name completely escapes me. We were then back out on the road and again, riding through the corn fields and farm houses. Knowing we were only doing 65 miles today made it fairly easy even as the wind picked up again and, of course, turned into a somewhat annoying headwind.

Our only SAG of the day was a fun stop. It was at the Gentry family farm and apparently has been a SAG stop for something like 10 or 12 years. It is run now by two brothers, Tom and Bob, and Tom was out to greet us. He had lawn chairs out for us (all with names taken from their cows - I had to take the picture of 'Beth") and eventually we did a group shot of the cycling folks who were there and Tom in the middle. I got talking with Tom and learned that he has about 800 acres in corn and soybeans. They were originally a dairy farm but couldn't make a living with it and finally sold off almost all the cows. I told him my son-in-law was in the same business and he was somewhat surprised to learn that we have farms in New Jersey - I'm sure his image of New Jersey was crowded developments, turnpikes and refineries, and cities like Newark. Even as we left he was still shaking his head over this idea of New Jersey farms.

Before I left the SAG I had a quick phone conversation with Susan. She called me yesterday to tell me that a neighbor's tree had fallen on our garage, front porch roof and her car - and of course took down all the electric and phone wires as well. Very scary and very traumatic for her and one of those "of all things to happen while I'm gone" kind of things. I'm happy to report that she was feeling much better today and also that she handled the whole thing with grace and intelligence - bravo...Fortunately nobody was hurt and the house itself was not harmed - it is now in the hands of the insurance company.

Indianapolis is probably the biggest city we have visited and we really took the back way in. Our cue sheets had us going through residential neighborhoods primarily, past homes and golf courses and making left and right turns every mile or so for the last 10 miles. It was a bit of a pain to keep referring to the cue sheet but on the other hand, it was very interesting to see the neighborhoods of the city.

One of my thoughts as I covered so much of the day's journey alone was how dependant I was on that cue sheet. At one point, out there among the corn fields I missed a turn and went maybe a mile and a half before I discovered my mistake and retraced my course and found the right corner. It occurred to me that all I really knew was that I was in Indiana and headed for Indianapolis but if anyone asked me where I was I had not a clue. It's not like being in the middle of the Sahara without a compass but it does give you a feeling of really being on your own in a strange land for awhile.

And one last thing for tonight...I discovered another great beer tonight. It is Leinenkugel - a great German sounding name that almost demands it be a great beer. It is a wheat beer but with a definite malty taste and a glass with a steak is a wonderful way to end a day of cycling.

And tomorrow we have one more day in Indiana...83 miles to Richmond. We are hoping for clear skies and a tail wind. We shall see...(and Go Red Wings!!!)

Funny helmets and smooth roads...

After 34 dys and some 2500 miles people start getting a little nutso... probably something akin to prisoners who get 'stir crazy'. So today was designated "decorate your helmet day" and the idea was to use the day off to come up with something a bit wacky and show it off this morning before getting on the bikes. Tom took all the photos (I wasn't thinking - mine was encased in plastic because of a forecast of rain) and there are too many for the blog. I have included Tom who had balloons with the number 7 for the seventh week when it will be party time. Mine was the Superman logo and the little corkscrew with the saying I thought appropriate for the 2nd oldest guy on the ride. There were some pretty outlandish outfits including the Englishman in the group (actually from Liverpool) who decorated not only his helmet but a good part of his body and bike as well - mostly in red, white and blue. And in case anyone wonders I did pull the corkscrew out before I hit the road but I kept the Superman logo on all day.

It was another day that started out looking very doubtful. We had thunder and lightning through much of the night and the clouds were dark and heavy this morning with a forecast of showers through the morning. So again, we left on wet roads but no rain and with our fingers crossed. The good news was that there was no wind - hooray. We headed out right through downtown Champaign and wound our way back to University Ave and then right through the university itself so we did get a chance to see the raison d'etre for Champaign. Almost immediately upon leaving the city we were on a state road and, not too surprising, back into farm country and more cornfields. One of our group is from this area and made the comment that the farmers here are expecting one of their best crops ever. They have had an abundance of rain and the predictions are very positive. I just look at the soil and we go by and it looks so dark and rich it just seems like the ideal farm land.

With no wind and pretty decent roads we made good time and actually rode with a group of 8 or 9 riders for probably 30 miles or so until half of them and decided to stop at a store and four of us kept up the same pace through the little towns and cornfields. After a quick stop at the only SAG of the day we came to the Indiana state line...if there had not been a couple of folks stopped there I could easily have missed it because at this point we were moving. In any case we took our pictures, did our little ritual with the Pacific sand (I occasionally wonder whether in this day and age we might not be violating some state law that prohibits bringing foreign matter into the state) and crossed into another state in our "epic journey" across America.

By this time the sun had made it's appearance and it was turning into a great day. I am easily satisfied with blue skys, puffy white clouds and a nice road - no wind is a bonus. And so a perfect day for a bike ride and we continued to the little town of Veedersburg (pop probably about 796). At the four way stop in the center of town there was a restaurant called the Bus Stop on the corner that looked perfect for lunch - first because it was the only place in town, and second because it was filled with customers. So the five of us went in to all the stares of the locals and a few of the usual questions - "You started where? Going to Boston?" There was a very cute baby with her mom at the table next to us and Hank, Mr Personality always, went over and asked the mother if she would allow the baby to be in a photo with him - and both the baby and Hank were delighted with the affirmative response. It was a great little place with homemade pies and filled with friendly people. And the kind of place most people in cars would simply fly by and never even see.

And so we left after continuing a couple of conversations on the little deck and headed back out into our perfect day. One of the little towns had the bike garden on the wall of the building. They were all lined up and filled with flowers - and the photo does not show it but at the corner was an ice cream store - bikes and ice cream, perfect together.

And finally, the little town of Hillsboro: their sign made us all smile. And all we saw were the happy people - they must keep the soreheads under cover. So we have now changed to the eastern time zone and are sitting in Crawfordsville and looking to a short, i.e 65 miles, ride to Indianapolis tomorrow. We did 80 miles today and had 5 hours and 20 minutes of riding time but it didn't seem like that much. The day off was good for us and tomorrow's short day almost seems like a recovery day too.

And just a bit of trivia to finish off the day...Crawfordsville was home to Gen. Lew Wallace who was the author of Ben-Hur (among other things) and I do not think we will make it to the Lew Wallace museum. But I thought I'd pass along that bit of information just in case Jeopardy comes calling....And on that note, good night.

Time for a nap

Chillin' in Champaign on a much needed rest day.

We did 620 miles over the last 7 days including 2 centuries. We had rain and wind as well as a couple of beautiful days. We have now done 5 true centuries since the ride began - and in my previous cycling life I had done exactly 3 (and one of those was disputed...99.1 the quibbler said is not a century).

The map is posted every night in the lobby of the hotel we are staying in. It started with just a light blue line representing our intended journey. Each night they add a black overlay for that day's ride for a graphic look at our progress. It is incredible to see it and realize how far we have come. Tomorrow we cross into Indiana for another state crossing - and we come into the Eastern time zone, that is another big step toward Boston.

Coming into Champaign last night took us along University Ave which was somewhat reminiscent of some of the streets of Princeton around the University. Nice street with lots of leafy trees, nice homes, some even elegant. However, we turned before we got to the main campus.

And by the way, we also saw our first Canada geese last night - a sure sign we are transitioning into the eastern U.S. One of our California riders was waxing enthusiastic over his sighting of a mama goose and her newly hatched siblings and a couple of folks who see them all the time immediately jumped in with their comments on what pests they are - me being one of those folks.

We started the trip with 25 riders in Los Angeles but have lost a few along the way. Some who started had job committments that permitted them only a few weeks and several rode only as far as Albuquerque or Santa Fe. Another left in Abilene and one more will stop in Indianapolis (his home). At the same time we picked up two more people here in Champaign for the final push to Boston - and one is riding a recumbant, should be interesting - although the worst of the climbing was in the mountains there is still some formidable climbing ahead. Even Ohio has hills I'm told and I know from experience about the climbing in New York and Vermont. So we are now 18 strong and on our way to the final 1/3 or so.... One of the other riders made a comment that we become like family and it is true. We have a very fine group of people on the ride and in lots of ways we have become siblings over the past 2000 or so miles.

I slept in to about 8 this morning - a delicious luxury - and then went down for a leisurely breakfast. Came up and caught up on a few computer things, little bit of news (Red Wings lost last night-I was too tired to stay up), and then did some laundry. Am going to go out and read a bit and maybe close the eyes for awhile. Tomorrow we have a mere 79 miles to Crawfordsville, Indiana - I must admit some relief that we are not coming off a rest day into a century. And if the weather is anything like what we have had today it will be a good ride....

What a difference a day makes...

I went to bed last night with a feeling bordering on dread thinking of today's ride. My legs were toast and my body was tired and the prospect of 87 miles was not something I wanted to deal with. We woke up this morning and at least we had no thunder and lightning and no rain. (Furthermore, I was just a bit disappointed that our day off was not in Springfield which is home to Lincoln museums, his home and so on).

What I did discover this morning and throughout the day was that over the past four weeks and 2,000 miles on the bike I have worked myself into pretty good shape, number one, and number two the body has some amazing recuperative powers. Today turned out to be a marvelous ride in just about every way. It started out with a cloud cover that kept things cool for the first twenty miles or so and just a bit of a headwind - enough to feel the breeze but the grasses on the side of the road were not bent back like yesterday. We had to move through Springfield's morning rush to get out to the country and I do believe we hit every red light from the hotel to the city limits. But I guess all the starting and stopping was good warm-up because once we got to the open road, we felt good and took off. We had a few rollers and then the road started following a railroad track about 50 yards to our left. Railroad tracks are always good because you know the railroad surveyors plan for level roads for the trains with only very gradual climbs and descents. More to the point, all the tiredness and sore thighs from yesterday were gone and I was really blown away by the ease of the ride. The sun came out, we had blue skys with just the right amount of puffy white clouds and it was just a beautiful day for a ride. The miles started to fly by and it turned into one of those days where you feel like the little boy on your first Schwinn and you can just ride forever...A wonderful feeling.

We were once again in farm country from beginning to end and virtually all of it was corn for as far as the eye could see. One of the things that struck me today was the appearance and upkeep of Illinois farms. Almost all the farms appear to be family owned (as opposed to the big agri-business farms we saw further west) but they are so well kept and neat they almost could be featured in House Beautiful. The houses are landscaped, lawns neatly cut, and the barnyards (for the most part) are clean and uncluttered. I took a couple of pictures and one is above. It is more modern than most of the farmhouses but the appearance is the same. And just behind it was the barn and a couple of equipment sheds and that area was just as neat as the front yard of the house.

Taking the state roads as we do we go through a ton of tiny little towns that may have populations of 239, 123 - saw one today that showed exactly 500. I wonder how they came up with such a round number? Most of them have no traffic lights, maybe one stop sign but all have a grain elevator - one of our group has termed them "America's castles". One of these towns we saw today with no traffic light or stop sign was named Cornland. And I thought how I would have loved to be present at the town council meeting that decided on that creative name. Another town was named Mt. Pulaski. Mt??? In the middle of this incredibly flat land of corn? Somebody either had a sense of humor or a very active imagination.

About 11 AM we pulled into a (what else?) a Dairy Queen for lunch - amazing how good a simple cheeseburger and Dr Pepper can taste after 50 miles or so (mind you, I had a more than ample breakfast but that was hours earlier). When we walked in there were 4 or 5 octogenarian ladies coming out, all laughing and giggling. It turns out that our own Senior Rider(almost 74) had been come in, taken his food and sat down with the ladies and started telling them of going across the country and how much fun it was etc, etc...and they just loved it. We are now referring to Hank as the Illinois boy toy.

Tom and I pulled in about 2 and of course it was time for lunch - of course, we had done another 35 miles since the cheeseburger. So to Chili's for a quesidilla. The manager actually seated us (still in our bike shorts and jersey) and asked us about the ride and were we doing it for a charity. We told him of Anchor House and to our great surprise when the bill came the only charge was for the beer that each of had and said please put the cost of your lunch toward the Anchor House collection - good feeling for both us.

And by the way half a dozen of us went to a steak house for dinner and we both realized that this was actually our fourth meal of the day...will make up for some of the 5,000 calories the computer says we consumed today.

All in all a really great day but I'm still looking forward to a day off the bike...and a sleep in tomorrow morning.

A lonnggg day in the heartland....

Sitting at dinner tonight with our mechanic who is also one of the best riders in the group and (in his wonderful Texas drawl) he said "Anyone who says this wasn't one tough ride didn't ride the roads that I did". And I said thanks, I needed to hear that from a rider like him. We knew it would be long - 107 miles and our second century in the past six days and nothing under 75 in the days in between. What really made this one a killer was the wind - again.

We started the day with another delay as we woke up to the rumble of thunder again and at 6:00 AM a pretty steady rain. Our normal 7:15 start was delayed to 8:15, not a great way to start a 107 mile day. Again we were expecting lots of rolling up and down hills for at least the first half or so of the ride. When we did finally get underway the clouds were still black and heavy but the rain was pretty much over and the only reminder was the wet roads. Our first hill was right out of the hotel, a great little wake-up call after sitting around the lobby waiting to get started.

A couple of miles outside of town the winds started to come up but were mostly crosswinds and while that presents its own kind of challenge it was not a direct force in our faces. Somewhere around mile 10 the wind shifted - or the road curved, I cannot remember - and the headwinds started in earnest. It was another of those days where no matter what gear I was in I was never going faster than 11 or 12 mph - and my legs were telling me that this was going to be a tough day. We had a SAG somewhere around mile 30 and it was almost a mistake to stop. Starting up after a 15 minute break was like trying to start the car on a sub-zero day - the engine groans and tries to catch but you know it really doesn't want to move. We moved down the road trying to get into a rhythm but that wind just keeps coming at you. And so we continued. The sun finally started peeking out from the clouds and we were moving through Illinois farm country that just went on and on. Every now and then I would glance to the side of the road watch the grasses being bent double by the same wind that was beating up on us. Somewhere around mile 55 we stopped at a gas station/convenience store for a chocolate milk and candy bar - quick energy food. One of the other riders gave me this kind of dejected look and said this stuff (the wind) is getting to my head...I don't know if I can make it...P.S. he did.

The country side we covered was almost all farm land and the one picture I have is kind of typical of what we saw all day. The fields were mostly corn with an occasional field of wheat or hay. The grove of trees conceals a farm house and barn and also a real one room school house. I took just a couple of pictures today - was simply working too hard to stop most of the time.

At mile 70 we made a couple of quick turns into the little town of Jacksonville and stopped at a Dairy Queen - we hardly ever do not stop at a DQ if we can find one. Anyhow, a grilled cheese sandwich, a root beer float and then a couple of energy bars and we were back on the road for the last 37 miles. And then - wonder of wonders - we took a turn and suddenly we had a marvelous tail wind. From 12 miles an hour we were now moving at 19 - 21 mph and flying. When I say this was a real life saver I am not kidding. The change of direction carried us all the way into Springfield and I truly wonder if I might still be out on the road, perhaps sleeping under a tree, were it not for that blessed tail wind.

Truly the last 30 miles was fun but there was no doubt that we were one very tired group tonight. Most nights we would go out somewhere nearby for dinner but tonight the plan was to call out for pizza and it was perfect. All of us were quite content to sit in the hotel lobby and breakfast area with a beer or glass of wine (courtesy of the hotel) and then back up to our rooms.

So for the day: 107 miles, 7 hours and 10 minutes of riding time (8 1/2 hours total on the road), and a 14.9 mph average (only because of that last 30 miles). And tomorrow it's an 87 mile trip to Champaign followed by a much anticipated day off. I think I can probably go off to sleep without checking the weather reports.