Day 30-31-32-Another Century, Another Delayed Start, and Another Rest Day

Day 30-Qunicy to Speingfield, Ill.
Miles: 108.2
Time: 7:06

Average: 15.2 mph
Max: 33.2 mph
Ascent 2,573

Est. Calories: 7,114

Day 31-Springfield to Champaign, Ill.

Miles: 87.5

Time: 5:49

Average: 15.0 mph

Max: 25.9 mph

Ascent: 1,926

Est. Calories; 5,908

Day 30-Another delay in starting because of lightening at our normal start times. At first the delay was expected to be an hour, and then the storm moved on enough to get started a few minutes early. I am beginning to feel like a fireman: first you are relaxing, then the alarm goes off and your out the door. Given the delayed start and the long day, we had to keep moving throughout the day to get into the next hotel at a reasonable hour, and still it took us a bit over 7 hours in the saddle. Fortunately, the wind shifted in the later part of the day, and we could pick up a bit more speed. The two bikers I was riding with were the two oldest riders, Bob and Hank, (see above). While following them, I decided to get a quick picture. I hadn't anticipated the speeds we were going (high teens), and by the time I stopped, got the camera out, they were almost gone. I had to kick it up quite a bit to close back in on them. So much for a little diversion. The second picture is Bob in his biking splendor.

Day 31-This was the last day before the fourth Rest day, and some riders were dragging a bit as we started out, but almost every kicked it up a bit through the course of the day; partly because the ride was quite flat, partly because the wind changed in the later part of the day to a tail wind, and partly because the sooner you get in the longer your rest day becomes.

While we had been through many, many miles of Agri business in terms of farms, growing crops, herds of cows and horses, and silos of all sizes, it just seemed to be more meaningful riding to day thinking that we will be moving into more industrial areas in the next week (northeast Ohio). Hence the farm and crop pictures. The pictures of the grasses along the road is also a strong indication of the direction that the wind is blowing. At the time of the picture, you can see the lighter side of the grass being on the left, which is the direction of the wind, and which, of course, was the direction we were riding at the time. Sometimes it seemed as though you watching your own garden grow as you moved across states, or just from one day to another. One day you'd see a plowed field, the next day you might see sprouts coming up, the next would show a couple inches, and then you might see a green corn field with a deer standing up to his neck in corn, and then bounding through the field to avoid us crazing on bike moving by. Just nice stuff!!

Riders continue to share ongoing issues: like sore hands, sore this and that, etc. And, other's willing share solutions that work for them. The sharing is part of the strength of the group. I can't imagine what would have happen to some of us with the tips and help of others. While some have gone across the USA more than once, I am sure those of us who haven't would have had a much more difficult time with the group dynamics and support.

Day 32-Besides the normal laundry, eating, and resting, most of us went to a party store to get sill things to put on our helmet for tomorrow. God only knows what some people will come up with, since some bikers are already carrying stuffed animals, a plastic fish tank, and seemingly all they can carry in their shirt pockets already. We'll see tomorrow. See ya....................