Day Thirty-five

SAG #2 was at a quiet cemetery and I was thinking about staying.

A little "Road Closed" construction doesn't slow down GLORIA

The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.

A. Lincoln

And that sums up the way I approach this tour. It’s really pretty simple. All we have to do is get on our bikes every morning and pedal in the direction the staff tells us. Every evening when we’re done I look at the next destination and the mileage. I also check the weather. I try to enjoy each day and some are more enjoyable than others but I try not to get too hung-up on anything else. Just go out and ride.

Today was effectively our third century in a row and it seems like most people where happy to get the workman-like mileage done. It was another gorgeous ride on back roads with NO hills. A little confusing as we limped into Champaign because we rode right by the “Comfort Inn” since it’s been renamed Quality Inn. This is the second time the name has completely changed on a destination but we all eventually figure it out.

Injury time again. Yesterday Rand took a bizarre tumble in an intersection in Springfield and had to be taken to a clinic. He’s a little banged-up and the bike needed some attention but he rode today with the assistance of modern medicine. About 20 miles into the route this morning we saw a large group of bikers ahead and that’s never a good sign because it doesn’t take that many people to fix a flat. At least there was no ambulance. Lauren took a hard fall when her wheel hit the gravel on the side of the road. Nice road rash and her bike will also need some minor work but I’m guessing she’ll be back with us tomorrow. These “minor” incidences are a good reminder for the rest of us to always pay attention when we’re in the saddle. They could have been much worse.

Everyone played real nice today and a lot of us stayed in contact during the day just trying to get the mileage done. We did have some fun coming into the second SAG when we realized it was a straight ½ mile shot and the big horses were up front. I did my best Phil Liggett/Paul Sherwin routine which sent Sooner Rick and Phil off the front for the “sprinter’s points”. Phil sucked Rick’s wheel and I thought he had him but Rick didn’t give him an inch and won the race.

The first SAG was set-up at a quiet park in the middle of NO WHERE. It just happens to be 600 yards from the location of Lincoln’s cabin on the Sangamon River. Kind of cool to think about old Abe chopping wood and reading books right there. Wonder how much of it is true?

Just got a text from our guest Italian rider. They’ve experienced some trouble with the Google Map routing because it’s trying to put them on dirt roads. They’re going to miss dinner but should be here before dark and hopefully get enough rest to enjoy the ride with us tomorrow.

Today’s ratings: (the higher the better or easier)

Scenery: 4

Road conditions: 8

Grunt factor: 6