Day 29-A New State and 2,000 Miles

Kirksville, Mo. to Quincy, Ill.
Miles: 75.7
Time: 5:43
Average: 13.2 mph
Max: 26.2 mph
Total Ascent: 2,156 ft
Est Calories: 4,852

Another wet start to the day, so I again left my camera in my bag. Also, another day with headwinds for the majority of the day. What's with this prevailing winds of west to east? We're not going to change things, so we just ride. We were hoping for a bit of respite from the weather today given that tomorrow will be another century, but it wasn't to be. In fact, tomorrow is shaping up to be the same as the last two days as respects the potential for a rainy start, but there may be a bit of help from a more trailing wind. We'll see.

We did move into a new state today: Illinois, and have now covered over 2,000 miles of the 3,400 total. It seems like eons ago, but it used to be a big deal when I used to train 1,000 getting in shape for the Anchor House ride I do every year (see the first blog entry). I guess I won't have to do anything special this year other than this ride. Actually, Bob Fuller and I did a bit less then 2.000 miles since Jan 1, so I will have done almost 5,000 miles by the time this ride is over since the first of the year. I am tired just writing about this. While this ride has many challenges, one of the great upsides is learning more about our fellow riders each day. Each rider has his/her own unique stories and lives, and none of them are boring to be sure. People, riders and staff alike (some 20 people), live or have lived or have homes in Japan, Iran, Afghanistan, Israel, England, Mexico as well as all over the USA. Some lived there because that is where they are from, some lived there because their jobs took them to those locations, and some just retired there. Whatever the reason, the stories are interesting. And, occupations to not seem to breed the decisions to ride. We have a wonderful mixed bag of current and prior vocations, and avocations, and there does not seem to be a loss for subjects to talk about, which is one of the more interesting parts of the ride. And when the weather cooperates, and scenery explodes into all its splendor, this truly is a great ride! I'm not sure that there is another one of these in me, but more than one of these riders have done multiple crossings. We have people were this is their fourth crossing. I told you these folks weren't boring, whether or not you may have your own definition for these people..............

As the ride days pile up, we are getting stronger or just think we are, and in other ways we push harder, which makes us look even more forward to those rest days; the next being in 2 more days. See ya................