Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Day 44. Tuesday, July 30

Day 44. Tuesday, July 30. Niagara Falls to Henrietta (Rochester) NY. 85 miles

Today was another beautiful day to be on a bicycle. Temperatures began in the 60s and got to the mid 70s. The roads were in very good shape. The first 30 miles of the ride were pretty flat, so we were able to keep a nice pace. Because I had been feeling like I'd been pushing a bit hard lately, I hung back and rode mostly by myself, still keeping up a decent 17 to 19 mph pace. The last 50 miles were more rolling hill and farm fields. Nothing too difficult, very pretty and fun to ride. I pulled into the LaQuinta hotel and ended the ride about 1:30 this afternoon.

I met some pretty incredible people today, but let me explain how that came about.  For the past few days, I have had some swelling in my lower legs. I have tried a number of things to reduce that, but it was not going down, even over night. Not painful, just a very full feeling in my legs. Today it was a bit worse. Our group leader, Jeff, had a compression stocking that I used. It helped a little, but not totally.
So when we finished the ride today into Rochester, we thought it might be best to have some folks check it out. Strong Memorial Hospital, part of the University of Rochester medical system was close by, so I went for some tests.
As you might imagine, everyone was interested in what I've been doing the last six weeks, that I've ridden 3,200 miles.  they thought these funny tan lines were a bit fun.  I had a real fan club forming here at the hospital.
They did a Doppler ultrasound on my legs to see if there were any clots forming. That was clear. They also did an EKG and an x-ray of my heart to see that everything was in order. One problem- a little - stressing little- fluid build up in my lungs. There were some concerns that my heart may not be working properly, so the recommendation was to stay the night for observation and have an echo-cardiogram in the morning.  Dr. Adler  and his PA were terrific in explaining the potential problems to me, even though they knew I was anxious to be on the road to the next stop and finish the ride.

I  also met Rosa, an LPN who initially took my history, drew some blood samples and tried to prepare me for some possible bad news. Rosa is the mother of 4 kids, ranging from early 30s to a 12 year old son still at home. She began to tell me of her interest (and talent) in art - drawing, painting and sculpting. She just completed her bachelor's degree in art. Along the way, she has won some exhibitions. She recently entered a juried paint show, winning a second and third place. What's amazing is that she had broken her right hand and had to do this all with her left! Some of her instructors have told her she will go a long way with her talent. She certainly has the drive!  When Rosa was 5 years old, in Spain, she was involved in a fiery car accident. Her mother and another passenger were killed. She was the only survivor. Her father was following in the car behind. A few years later, a brother drowned while saving her from an undertow while swimming in the Carribean.  So much adversity. She has adopted the name "Phoenix Rose," to signify her rising from the fire and ashes. How appropriate. Rose, you are an inspiration. I wish you lots and lots of success.

My nurses, Cheryl, Melinda and Chadwick have been terrific as has the entire staff, including Jerry who did the echocardiogram. And the docs are beyond spectacular! Dr. Gasser, the cardiologist and Dr. Sarnoski, the internist in charge of my care, were very thorough, answering all my questions. The results of all the tests (I hope I'm relating this fairly accurately, Doc) is that there is no evidence of a clot, the ECG was normal, but there is a bit of an enlargement of all four chambers of the heart. The question is whether it's intrinsic, or related to all the strain and exercise I've been doing these past few weeks. So,  as we are so close to the end, I will be able to finish the ride, but I have to take it easy, slow down a bit (Amy, Yuval, Anne, Gail, Jane, Katie and Gary, I won't be able to keep your pace. Ride on!), and make sure that someone is with me. And I will follow up about my heart in Columbus. I missed one day.
If you're ever sick in Rochester, Strong Memorial is the place to come. They have just earned their second magnet designation and the staff is outstanding!!!

On Tuesday night, I also met a woman here with her adult son who was in for some testing. She should be on the Rochester Chamber of Commerce. She transplanted here 30 years ago, but loves the area and really sells it. We are in The Finger Lakes region, so there are lots of recreational opportunities in the area. Of course there are local wineries to visit, as it is a great grape growing area.  In 2007, Rochester was ranked first in "most livable city." Rochester is home to Kodak, Bausch and Lomb and Xerox.  Rochester is also the home of Frederick Douglas, so lots of things named "North Star," the name of his paper. Susan B. Anthony was also from Rochester. Harriet Tubman
lived nearby in Auburn, NY.  Rochester is also home to a huge toy museum.  Seems like a lot to do and see here in this area and its an area I hope to spend more time in - just not right now.


As you might imagine, I am disappointed not to be riding today (Wednesday), or complete the entire ride but it seemed like a choice between being smart and being foolish. And I will be pedaling on to Portsmouth!

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Monday, July 29, 2013

Day 42. Sunday, July 28

Day 42. Sunday, July 28. Brantford to Niagara Falls, NY. 75 miles

What a day for a bike ride! The temperature was in the70s. The roads, for the most part, were in excellent condition and largely straight and flat with a few hills and rills, just for thrills (sorry for that). And a nice wind at our back. All that added up to a great day on the bike. For much of the day, I rode by myself, not trying to push too hard, but with the conditions, I often found myself just cruising along at 20 to 22 mph.
At one point, I rode up to someone not in our group and rode with her for a mile or so before she turned off.  Angie related that that she was out for a 90 minute ride. She is the manager at a blood testing service and likes to ride on the weekends, having just started cycling last year. She said she ran a marathon last year and now has her goal of riding in the Gran Fondo (Big Ride) of Niagara in September, where several hundred riders, perhaps thousands, will come together to challenge themselves to an 80 mile ride. It's not a race; the pace is whatever the rider sets it to be. You can stop and get a sandwich along the way or charge through. Just a nice time to be on a bike

Toward the end of the ride, I joined up with Ann, Gail, Gary and Yuval and we came into the Niagara Falls area together.  We came right to the Falls, got off the bikes and walked around a bit, taking in the sights, dodging as many of the other tourists as we could.
At the Falls, a couple stopped to ask about our ride. We were all wearing our orange America by Bicycle shirts. Most folks get rather impressed about our adventure, especially now that we are so close to the end. I learned that Bob and Dorothy are from Connecticut, but stopped by the Falls on their way home from Cleveland where Bob just finished competing in the senior Olympics! He competed in the triathlon and finished 13th out of 19 in his age category (I would guess late 60s or early 70s. He certainly looked trim and fit. Good for you Bob. Together they have two adult children. They related they tried to teach them the virtues of honesty and hard work.  They have been married 43 years and have never been to the Falls, so they plan to take three days and take it all in. 

Then we lined up to cross the Rainbow Bridge and enter the U.S. we simply got in line behind the cars. Traffic was moving so slowly, we walked the bikes across the.bridge. A nice photo  in coming
into New York, half a mile ride to the hotel and we're in. One of the riders, Rick, is from the Finger Lakes region. His wife, Cindy, was there with champagne! What a way to celebrate the end of the ride!


Don with Karen and Nazree
 
Sunday night I was joined by former colleagues at Catholic Social Services - Karen Washbush, director of development and marketing, and Nazree Gore, controller. We had an enjoyable supper catching up on what is happening at CSS. We had a lovely day together on Monday, driving up to Niagara in the Lake, a nice little tourist town on the Canadian side. had a great lunch at an Irish pub and then a fabulous ice cream cone. we topped it off by stopping by one of the local wineries. Karen and Nazree sampled; I napped.  While there we ran into Todd and Kim, a couple from Ohio celebrating their first wedding anniversary. Kim won over $500 last night playing the slots. Congratulations, Kim and Todd.  Thanks for making the trip, Nazree and Karen! I enjoyed it.


Be well.  Do good.


Don

Friday, July 26, 2013

Day 40 Friday, July 26

Day 40 Friday, July 26.  Port Huron, MI to London, Onyario, Canada.  82 miles

We were "up and at 'em" early this morning with breakfast at 5:30 and mandatory load by 6:30. With passports at the ready, I said good-bye to Mandy, Vaughn, Sophia and Cate and we set off promptly at 6:45 as a group to cross the Blue Water Bridge, over the St. Clair River and into Sarnia, Ontario. The US department of Transportation halted east bound traffic into Canada and provided an escort for our group over the bridge to the Canadian Customs Office. Twice we had to dismount our bicycles due to the expansion joints in the bridge, but all made it safely across and cleared customs. Well, almost all cleared customs. One of our riders, Mark, originally from Bath, Ohio, and a proud alumnus of the Ohio State University, now living outside Dallas, learned two days ago that, due to an old traffic issue in Canada from several years ago, he would not be allowed passage. He took off yesterday to ride solo around the south side of Lake Erie, adding another 180 miles to his trip. He plans to meet us in Niagara Falls. Godspeed, Mark. You've got some very long days in the saddle. I think I may have just ridden down to Bryan and called Tam!

It was a pleasant day, except for the 10 mph headwinds we battled much of the day. I guess that's part of the price you pay for high pressure systems sitting off to the east, creating blue skies and comfortable temperatures. There is a 50% chance of rain tomorrow, so I'll probably be cursing the weather again, wishing for wind!  Thankfully, Yuval, Amy, Katie, Jane and Fred formed a line and it made it a lot easier.

At mile 11.3 on our ride sheet, we were cautioned about the railroad tracks. It didn't say anything about a train, but just as we were approaching the tracks, the gate swung down and the bells started clanging. I thought we could have beat the train, but the group was wise to stop and wait...and wait...and wait. Although I didn't count cars, this was a long train. A second came by going the other way and the first pulled to a stop...and wait...and wait.  We waited 20 minutes or so to get back on the road. Amy estimated that we've crossed well over 100 railroad tracks on the ride so far, but this is the first delay we've had due to a train. In the grand scheme of things, nothing to complain about.

We arrived safely in London just before 2:00. Yuval and I did laundry to get us through the next few days as we start to think about winding down. There is still a lot of riding left, although we have now completed just under 3,000 miles. The ride sheets say 2,984, but with the detours we've encountered along the way, we have probably ridden right about 3,000 miles. Tomorrow we officially pass that milestone. Holy mackerel, we've come a long way.

So now it's off to bed, as it's off to Brantford, Ontario tomorrow and Niagara Falls on Sunday.

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Day 39. Thursday, July 25

Day 39. Thursday, July 25. Birch Run to Port Huron, MI. 87 miles
Riding around the hotel with Sophia and Cate

Sorry I didn't post anything last night. Our daughter Mandy and her family were in town and I was having too good of a time to stop and write anything. By the time we got back (almost 8:30), it was practically bed time.
 
The day was a beautiful day for biking. The temperature started in the 50s, calling for arm warmers and a light vest, but then rose into the 70s with only a slight breeze. The route has been relatively flat of late, making this guy from central Ohio feel at home. I still lag a bit behind on the rollers.

We stopped in the town of Brown City, MI to give the ladies a chance to use the rest room. While there, we had a glass of chocolate milk, although Yuval skipped the milk and went straight for a piece of blueberry pie. While there, I talked with John, an older, retired gentleman who was sitting by himself but who was definitely intrigued by this funny group of folks dressed in spandex.  I learned that he owned a farm with two houses on it, not far from the store. He does not farm them, but, rather, rents them out. He has some family down in Monroe (southeast corner of Michigan where we lived in the late 1980s), but I didn't recognize any of the names. I asked about his wife and he paused. A tear came to his eye and, with a catch in his throat, he told me his wife had passed eight years ago, after 45 years of marriage. They never had children, although she lost two from a previous marriage. He came to this little restaurant fairly regularly, I suspect for the company of the other patrons.  I would have liked to stay and talk, but the other riders were leaving.  As I was leaving, I told him my name and he introduced himself as John.  He then added, "Every house needs a John." I wonder how many times he's told that one. 

Outside, one of the other patrons was telling the group of a park in town dedicated to the memory of the fire fighters who lost their lives on September 11.  We rode to the park and were amazed at how this little town had cared for this memorial. A guy next door came over and started telling us more and how motorcyclists and fire fighters helped escort a beam from the trade center back to their town. He was ready to tell us much more, but it was time to get back on the road.  If you search YouTube, there is a video, showing hundreds of motorcycles escorting this beam (update: It's here). 

We finished the ride into Port Huron by coming up Lakeshore Drive with some huge mansions and very nice lake cottages. We then rode down to the St. Clair River at connects Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair ( a lake between Huron and Erie). The Blue Water Bridge rises high over the water to carry cars to and from Canada at Sarnia. Tomorrow we will be riding over this bridge.  Awesome!

Got to the hotel and had a chance to clean up before Mandy and Vaughn arrived. When they got their, the girls pulled their bicycles out of the trunk, we strapped on helmets and went for a ride (twice around the hotel).  Sophia and Cate have now ridden part way across America with me! 

After a nice dinner at the Quay Street Bistro, I returned to my room to get ready for bed and get prepared for the next day. When I pulled the sheets back, I found a friendly alligator, compliments of the girls. Sophia, Cate, and I have been putting this in each other's bed for 3+ years. It made me laugh hard. A great ending to a very good day. 

Be well. Do good.
Don

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Day 38. Wednesday, July 24.


Day 38. Wednesday,  July 24. Mount Pleasant to Birch Run, MI  74 miles
Well, it would have been close to 74 miles had we not had a bit of a detour. My odometer read 81 miles by the time we pulled into the hotel this afternoon. Again I learned to never assume a day will be easy.

We got a late start this morning - a little after 8:15, as we had our "rap" meeting this morning rather than last night because of the long day yesterday. It was nice to have Bill Drake ride with us is morning.    Amy, Yuval, Terry, Gary, Ann and Gail, Bill and I headed off together, hoping to lessen the impact of the east and north east winds today by riding in a pace line. I'd say it helped quite a bit, but the day was still a lot of work at times. It was nice when we had to go south.  Bill is still riding strong at 70 years old. There were a few times we had to tell him to slow it a bit.  As I mentioned yesterday, Bill was one of two that got me into riding 12 or 13 years ago when we lived in Sylvania, just outsideToledo. I remember Bill came riding by the house one day while I was standing outside. I asked him how far he went and he yelled back over his shoulder, "35 miles."  I went into the house and commented to Tam, "Who in the heck would ever ride a bike 35 miles?"  I asked her that last night as well!!

The day was fairly uneventful with only one SAG stop at the Reeves farm. I guess the story is that several years ago, one of the ride leaders stopped at this farm to take a picture of a tractor and the owner showed him a barnful of refurbished tractors in pristine condition. They stopped again the next year to say hi and the friendship was born. It's now a regular stop, even though Mr. Reeves has passed on.

With today's ride, we've officially ridden 3/4 of the route. We've now completed just over 2800 miles. But there's still a lot of riding to do with over 850 or so miles to go. The next few days are relatively flat, but there will be some roll when we get to the Finger Lakes region in New York, and Vermont and New Hampshire will have some tough climbs. We all know the end is not too far away, but I just have to keep in mind that there are still 11 riding days left. Now is not the time to ease up.

I'm looking forward to seeing Mandy, Vaughn, Sophia and Cate tomorrow in Port Huron.
Again, Bill, thanks for coming up for the ride today. I looked for you after my shower, but you were gone. Thanks, too, for the pictures.

Be well. Do good.

Don

Day 37, July 23

Day 37,  July  23.  Ludington to Mount Pleasant, MI. 115 miles

After a quick night, we ate about 5:30 this morning and loaded at 6:30 for an early start, as we had a long day ahead of us. The weather was a bit cool and breezy, with winds out if the NNWat 10 to 15 mph. We should get a little push today from the wind, but it felt a lot like a strong cross wind much of the day. Lots of rolling hills which generally cause me to fall behind a bit. After all the ups and downs we have done, you'd think this flat lander would do a bit better on the rolling terrain. I think I'm going to have to learn to spin faster at less of a gear. Once I caught back up, I'm generally able to stay up, but it's still work.

Just before one of our SAG stops, we saw a mouse dart across the road just ahead of us. A few miles later, we saw a bald eagle come out of one of the trees just ahead of us, then flew directly overhead. very cool, but I think he missed his chance for that little mouse.

Our third SAG stop this afternoon was at mile 84 and was at a senior center about half way between Big Rapids and the Village of Lake Isabella. When we pulled up, Harold was sitting in his electric wheel chair waiting to talk with the riders. He told me he used to ride bicycle when he lived in Toledo, but that he was hit by a car in 1988. The wreck broke his arm and caused some other problems as well. He was hospitalized for several weeks. He's been up here in Michigan since 1989 to be near his mother. He said he owned a little house a few miles away but that he came to the nursing home every Tuesday and Friday for arts and crafts and to flirt with the ladies. He said he had never married, but worked for a number of years as a brickmason's assistant, hauling bricks and blocks at work sites.  I then went in to use the rest room and saw John sitting by himself eating lunch.  John appeared to be maybe early 50s with shoulder length hair and his left eye permanently shut - and no teeth. When I greeted him, he said, "I thought I recognized you."  He proceeded to tell me that his teeth hadn't been able to stay in lately and that made it difficult to eat. My hat is always off to those who work and volunteer in these types of facilities. It is important, yet hard and low-paying work. They deserve all our thanks for caring for people like Harold and John.

At mile 99, we felt obligated to stop for ice cream. Yeah, I can hear your comments, but this lady normally doesn't open her store until 4pm. She opened a few hours early today just because she knew our group was coming through. It was the right thing to do! For her and for us.

Finally, we arrived in Mount Pleasant, home to Central Michigan University. This was our last 100 + mile of the trip. Tomorrow should be a bit easier at only 75 miles - and pretty flat. 
I cleaned my bike tonight after getting in and changed brakes as well. After taking a shower and getting ready to go to supper, I was down in the parking lot and got a huge surprise. An old friend, Bill Drake, from Sylvania, OH, was standing there with a big grin on his face. He had driven up from Toledo this afternoon and plans to ride to Birch Run with us tomorrow. Bill was one of the guys I used to ride with before we moved to Columbus and was one of the early ones (along with Chuck Van Rens) to encourage me to get on a bicycle 11 or 12 years ago.  Even though he's older, I expect that he is still faster than I. Thanks for the surprise, Bill.

Be well. Do good.

Don

Day 36. Monday, July 22



Today is rest day, even though we will be traveling about 115 miles to the east.  Today  we cross Lake Michigan, from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI. and enter the eastern time zone. I feel decadent sleeping in to 6:45. Yuval, my roommate, made me a cup of coffee and brought me the paper before I got up. What a guy! I wonder how I can arrange for this when I get home.  
We slowly got ready this morning as we had to load bags by 10:00, but not get on the boat until about 1:30. Of course we had a three mile bike ride to negotiate and find a nice place for breakfast. We were greeted at the dock by an ABB alumnus from 2011,  Gary Butters. he served us crackers and cheese and says "Hi!" to Dan Schoedinger who was also on that ride. Dan, he added a "go, Blue!" just for you!

So we sailed across the lake on the SS Badger. It is the last coal steam powered ferry in the U.S.  It was originally launched in 1953 to haul rail cars across the lake, but in 1992, it was repurposed to haul cars and passengers across the lake, between Manitowoc and Ludington, which are about half way up the lake on either side. I'm sure this saves a lot of time compared to driving around the lake. Because it is coal powered, it is not known how much longer it will be allowed to run. There was some speculation earlier this year that it would be shut down, as it burns 55 tons of coal each day and dumps 4 tons of coal ash directly into the lake every day. For now, they have permits through 2014, but who knows what will be decided after that.
Did you know that Lake Michigan is the only one of the Great Lakes that is entirely within the U.S. and not shared with Canada?  It has a surface area of 22,400 square miles, making it the largest lake , by surface area within e borders of one country. It has an average depth of 279 feet, and, at its deepest, it is over 900 feet deep.  You cannot see anything but water when out on the middle of it.

Once in Ludington, we had another three mile ride to the hotel of a quick night sleep. We leave at 6:30 in the morning for Mount Pleasant, MI, about 115 miles away.  Hard to believe, but this will be the final century ride of the trip.

Be well. Do good.

Don

Monday, July 22, 2013

Day 35. Sunday, July 21

Day 35. Sunday, July 21. Fond du Lac to Manitowoc, WI.  57 miles

On paper, today's ride looked easy enough. One of the lowest mileage days on the whole trip; only 1350 feet of climb. Most of us were thinking this would be a riding rest day. But we learned - Never take any ride for granted.
Lake Winnebago lighthouse

The day started out easy enough. We didn't load until 8:30, so we all had a little more relaxed start. The hotel had a chef fixing each of us individual omelets, as opposed to the freeze-dried scrambled eggs from a bag - try eating those for 30 days in a row! We took a leisurely ride out to the lighthouse on Lake Winnebago before leaving town. And then the riding began. We knew there was a threat of rain, but it held off all day. The winds, though, were blowing from east to west at about 10 to 15 mph (the flags were straight out). After the last few days with a tailwind, the headwind reminded us that cycling is not always easy. Even though the climbing did not look that difficult on
paper, getting up some of the hills had us all working.  Fortunately, there were seven of us working a pace line that gave each of us a chance to "rest" as you worked through the line, but still a lot more work than what we originally thought. Finally at about mile 49, we could see the lake (Michigan) and turned north. We were in town by around 1:00, so before checking into the hotel, we decided to stop for a nice Sunday lunch. Ahhh!
A quick shower and then on to the laundromat to make sure we have clean biking clothes. Tis group has learned to party wherever they are. We had the shuttle service from the hotel stop first to get some needed supplies - wine, beer, pretzels.  Did anyone bring soap?


Don's roommate, Yuval
Tomorrow is a rest day, although we have to bike three whole miles to the lake to get onto the SS Badger, an old coal powered ferry that will take us across the Lake to start our travels in Michigan - then another three miles to the hotel in Ludington.

Be well. Do good.

Don

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Day 34. Saturday, July 20

Day 34. Saturday, July 20. Wisconsin Dells to Fond du Lac.  84 miles

It's amazing the difference ten to fifteen degrees in temperature makes on a bike ride. The heat finally broke and I think all the riders were a bit relieved and refreshed. I know I am.  We left the Dells this morning about 7:15 after a big breakfast at the local Denny's restaurant. The morning was filled with great country roads and small towns that make for good bike riding. In Packwaukee, half the town had all their stuff out for garage sales. Our first SAG stop was in the little, but busy town of Montello. In Princeton, the local American Legion was grilling and selling bratwurst, almost a mandatory stop around noon time. They sell them every Saturday and Sunday between April and October. And they are good!
Store owned by Karen Washbush's grandfather 

We finished 84 miles  and into the Ramada Plaza in downtown Fond du Lac (it means the bottom or foot of the lake, as the town is at the south end of Lake Winnebago) just before 2:00.  Our hotel tonight is just two blocks from where Karen Washbush's grandfather owned and operated a grocery store (not exactly sure when). Karen's father, Chuck, grew up here.

Well, 84 miles is not exactly a rest day, but most of the day felt good. In the last five days, we have ridden nearly 480 miles. When home, I don't ride those kind of miles in two months! Tomorrow will feel like a piece of cake. We're riding to the east coast of Wisconsin at Manitowoc, less than 60 miles away.

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Day 33. Friday, July 19

Day 33. Friday, July 19.  La Crosse to Wisconsin Dells.  91 miles

The day started out great. Due to a passing rainstorm, load and take-off were delayed an hour. The rain dried pretty quickly and left the morning a bit cooler. Road surfaces were wonderful and the first third of the day was very nice. You could hear the wheels humming on the road, and, to a cyclist, that's a pretty cool sound.

Our first SAG stop was in Sparta, WI, the reputed bicycle capital of the world. From what I understand, the first "rails to trail" was built here in Sparta, going to our next stop, Elroy. In Sparta we stopped to take pictures of Ben Biking, a huge statue of an old time cyclist.
Then we jumped on the bike trail of crushed limestone for the next 33 miles. The surface wasn't too bad, although at times the gravel was a bit loose. But it slowed the average speed down to about 15 mph. Along the way, there were 3 old railroad tunnels - long and dark. The first tunnel was nearly 3/4 of a mile long. The bike lights were swallowed up by the darkness. When you started, you could not see any light from the other end. On the last two, you could. At the end of the bike path, we stopped for a nice lunch. Two o'clock already and still 30 miles to go. Except we learned that, due to construction, we would be re-routed, making the day 7 to 8 miles longer, making it almost another century ride.  Oh well, what's another few miles.

After lunch I began to feel a bit sluggish. And then it got HOT. I didn't have to stop, but I sure had to slow down a bit, as I could no longer keep the 18 mph pace.  I started to feel a bit light headed (not dizzy), enough to give me some concerns. Thankfully my riding buddy Amy stayed back to make sure I got in safely.  We finally got to Wisconsin Dells just after 5:00, the longest day in the saddle yet. We were tired, beat, ready for a nice showere and dinner. So why were they just emptying the luggage van as we got there? Well, the hotel had recently changed hands and the new owners didn't have any of the reservations!! The ABB team was great and arranged rooms at 3 or 4 different hotels. Certainly not as convenient, but catastrophe averted!

In the past four days, we have ridden just about 400 miles. Holy smokes. No wonder I'm so tired.
Luckily we only have an 83 miles ride tomorrow!

Be well.  Do good! I'm out like a light!

Don

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Day 32. July 18.


Day 32. July 18. Rochester, MN to LaCrosse, WI.    88 miles

Well, the heat got to me a bit today. We were into the mid 90s by noon or so. With the heat reflecting up from the road, it was hot. Fortunately, at mile 50 we got to ride on a bike path for 13 miles. the shade was a welcome respite. In addition to the temperatures, the terrain changed from flat to nice rollers to mountains. I never realized Minnesota had this kind of terrain. I assumed it was all
prairie like we had seen on the western half. Today, we had a fair amount of climbing, with the longest at mile 70 - one mile climb at 9-11% grade. That was hot. Lots and lots of water today. Once we got to the top of the ridge, the scenery was beautiful for several miles before dropping down for a nice fast descent. Then we crossed into Wisconsin and rode across the Mississippi River bridge and into LaCrosse. We've now ridden completely across five states!

Today was laundry day; still waiting for the dryer. Hopefully I won't be up too late as tomorrow is another 90 miles ride.  Thirty miles will be on a hard packed bike trail and part of that will be walking the bikes through three tunnels. I think that will be better than riding over three big hills on a hot day!

Laundry just finished - 9:45. Way past my bedtime. G'night!

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Day 31. Wednesday, July 17

Day 31. Wednesday, July 17. Mankato to Rochester, MN. 101 miles
Milkshakes: the nourishment of champions!

The ride today had me singing "Blue Skies" as that's what we saw all day. There was not a cloud until  after noon. Of course that means the sun was out and it was hot. 80 degrees by 8:00 and into the 90s in late morning. It was important to drink lots of water today. We were told late morning that a heat advisory had been issued.  Of course, at the end of the day, we had to properly nourish ourselves so it was almost mandatory to stop for a large milkshake today. Cyclists have to care for their bodies, you know!

We got off to an interesting start this morning. We had two full blocks to warm up and then climb a 3/4 mile hill that measured 12%. Ouch, first thing in the morning! But we had lots more hills today than yesterday, so it was necessary to bring out the climbing legs again. I guess the 5 to 8 mph tailwind helped make up for that.

Downtown Rochester, MN
 

It struck me today how the horizon in Wyoming, South Dakota and Minnesota is so much further away than in central Ohio. You can see a long way out here, even in Minnesota. Today, again, we passed miles and miles of corn fields as well as dairy and turkey farms. The difference from South Dakota is that here you see farm houses along the road. Some I'm sure have been farmed by the same family for generations.

Today I rode with Amy, Yuval and the two sisters - Katie, a retired teacher from Arizona, and Jane, a farmer from Nevada.  It was nice having a couple extra riders in our line. We each took pulls of two miles plus, often going 19-20 mph.

As I mentioned, it has been hot lately. The tan lines are really pretty weird. You should see folks in their bathing suits. Only cyclists appreciate these weird lines. For cyclists, though, that is a sign of distinction! I'm afraid my legs and arms are going to be pretty leathery by the time I get back. 
 
Mayo Clinic
 
We came into Rochester, MN today, home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. It is huge. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised.

Tomorrow at the 85 mile mark, we will cross the Mississippi River and enter Wisconsin. We will be nearly 65% finished. It is starting to go fast now.

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Day 30. July 16

Day 30. July 16. Worthington to Mankato, MN. 110 miles

Blue skies + flat roads + a bit of a tailwind + some strong lead out riders in the pace line = a very nice day in the saddle.

We were the last ones out of the parking lot this morning, but hooked up with two strong husband/wife teams, following their pace of 21-22 mph for over 20 miles. Nice! You can cover a lot of ground without working too hard that way. Thanks for the lift! After the first SAG stop, though, it was pretty much Amy, Yuval and me, trading pulls, anywhere between 17 and 20 mph for the rest of the day.

We passed mile and miles of corn fields today with some beans periodically mixed in. We also passed cattle, pigs and turkeys. Occasionally there were a dozen or so windmills dancing on the horizon. Very picturesque! We finished the last 8 miles or so on the bike path coming into Mankato. The path is lined with lots of trees (shade), which cooled things considerably. Nice way to end the day.

Mankato is a town of about 40,000, the 4th largest in Minnesota outside Minneapolis/St. Paul, and is located at the confluence of the Minnesota River and Blue Earth River. You might recall that Mankato was talked about in Little House on the Prairie. It's where the people from Walnut Grove would go to shop.

Early to bed tonight, as we ride another 100 miles to Rochester, home of the renowned Mayo Clinic.

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Monday, July 15, 2013

Day 28. July 15


Day 29.  July 15. Sioux Falls, SD to Worthington, MN. 71 miles

Yesterday was a bit rainy, but that's ok, as it only emptied the sky of water, making for clear skies and great riding today. Temperatures started in the high 60s and reached the mid 80s. We started the 

day by riding  8 miles on the bike path in Sioux Falls, past the falls and out of town.  At mile 25, we entered Minnesota. They were repaving the road, so we were diverted onto a dirt road for about two miles, but after that, the roads became pretty smooth. As hinted before, the landscape has been changing again with lots and lots of corn fields, bean fields and lots more trees. In addition to cattle, we're starting to see (and smell) hog farms. Towns are getting closer together now. In South Dakota, it was not unusual to ride two hours or more between towns. Today, towns were 8 to 10 miles apart, making the ride a lot more interesting. I hesitate to say that 70 mile bike rides are getting to be easy, but today was a great day to be on the bike. There were times our pace line was averaging between 20 and 22 mph. Then we slowed to about 18, and then even a bit slower, as we realized that over the next four days we will be riding nearly 390 miles. No real need to hurry. Better to save a little energy than to get to the hotel 15 minutes sooner. We still got here by 12:30.

Worthington is a growing town of about 15,000 people, according to Yolanda, the desk clerk here at the Travelodge Motel, even though the last census showed less than 13,000. The population is quite diverse, as people come here to work in some of the meat packing plants in and around Worthington. Pork, beef, chickens and turkeys are all rendered here and sent to stores around the country.
A one point, Worthington packaged a lot of turkey and for years has celebrated "King Turkey Day." This is a four day celebration here in Worthington and is touted in all the brochures. When I asked Yolanda to tell me about King Turkey Day, her face lit up and she became quite animated as did many of the locals standing in the lobby. This is a big celebration here, with parades, a pancake dinner, turkey calling contests, turkey bowling (stick your hand in a frozen turkey) and, since 1973, the highlight of the weekend is the Great Gobbler Gallop, a race between two turkeys - Paychecks from Worthington and his rival, Ruby Begonia from Cuero, Texas. It is a rivalry that each town takes seriously, as each bird undergoes lots of training for this block long race. They race here in September and in October, they race in Texas. The winner is determined by the best total time. The turkey incurs a five second penalty every time it is touched by one of the handlers or one of the thousands that line the street to watch the race. Sadly, this last year, Ruby Begonia was declared the champion, but the citizens of Worthington are optimistic that Paychecks will return the crown to Worthington.  Why the name Paychecks? Because it goes fast! I may have to come back in September to watch this spectacular event. If interested, type in "King Turkey Day Race, Worthington, MN" on YouTube and you can watch videos of at least a few of the races. Try the 1982 race.

There are lots of other activities here in Worthington. We just missed the International Festival this past weeks. In June, there is a sailing regatta on Lake O. In February, you can attend the winter festival and jump through the ice and into the lake. What a great place to be.

I also talked with Sunny. He is an immigrant, originally from near Bombay, India, but transplanted here 20 years ago from New Jersey. He and his wife raised their 3 kids here, and, even though they have moved to Minneapolis and Florida, he still stays because everyone knows his name and he doesn't like crowded cities. The folks from Worthington all seem to love this little town.

Tomorrow it's off to Mankato, about 110 miles away.

Be well.   Do good.

Don



Day 27, July 13 and day 28, Sunday, July 14

Day 27, July 13 and day 28, Sunday, July 14
Mitchell to Sioux Falls SD (72 miles) And rest day.

On Saturday, July 13, we left Mitchell for Sioux Falls and a much needed rest day.  For me, I have been anticipating this day for more than a week because Tam is flying out for the weekend. Just 72 miles and we get not quite two days together.

The ride was fairly un eventful, although we did go through the little town of Canistota where every year they have a parade and tractor pulling contests for the kids. We got there in time for the 4 and 5 year olds to pedal this toy tractor that had weights attached, just like the big tractor pulls. Cute!  But no time to dawdle; Tam is coming to town. I actually got to Sioux Falls by 12:30, beating Tam by two hours, enough time to clean up and get the laundry done!

What a great weekend . On Sunday morning, we went back out to the airport and rented a car (we said good bye to Jen, one of the riders, who was also going to the airport). this allowed us to go to Mass at the cathedral and explore town. 

Talk about coincidences, on Saturday night, we got a call from Diane Bennett and Dan Schoedinger who were on their way to Montana, but who would be passing through Sioux Falls on Sunday about 1:00p. Perfect timing! What a great visit. How come we can't seem to find the time to get together in Columbus, but happen to be in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the same time?

Monday morning will be hard, as I have to say good bye to Tam again, but this time for only three weeks.

Be well.  Do good.

Don

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Day 26. Friday, July 12.

Day 26. Friday, July 12.  Chamberlain to Mitchell,SD.  71 miles

This morning, we rode away from the Missouri River. After a couple of big climbs to get out of town, the road straightened and leveled out, providing us with a very modest 1000 feet of climbing. With half the trip under our belts, this presented no big deal.

We had hoped the winds would subside today. The day started with a gentle breeze, but then picked up speed and blew all day out of the SSE at 20+ mph again.  Not as bad as the headwinds yesterday, but nonetheless challenging.

The roads out here continue to go straight and go on forever. The fields of hay yielded to huge fields of corn, beginning to look more like the Midwest and central Ohio. At about mile 60, we started to see more trees. I guess I hadn't realized that for the past several days, we haven't seen many trees at all. The trees began to line the road, providing a nice screen against the wind. Our speed increased by a couple of mph almost immediately.

We arrived in Mitchell about 12:30, a relatively short day on the bike. Instead of going to the hotel, we diverted downtown to visit the world famous, only one in the world, Corn Palace. This is a large theater that has been here since 1892. Every year the outside is covered with different designed murals made of various parts of the corn plant. Inside are photos of all the years past as well as a number of trinket shops. I guess it was worth the five minute visit.

Tomorrow we ride to Sioux Falls, the largest city in the state, for rest day number 3. I think all the riders are ready to take a breather, especially to get a break from the wind, to give achy legs a chance to rest. I'm looking forward to a day off the bike, but mostly because Tam is coming into town tomorrow for a weekend visit. She'll leave Monday morning when we head toward Minnesota. This has been one of the tougher parts of the trip.  It is the longest we've been separated in over 41 years.

Forecasts for tomorrow call for more winds out of the southeast and a fair chance of isolated thunderstorms. I'll carry some rain gear just in case. By the time we get to Sioux Falls, we will have ridden over 2,000 miles since mid June! Holy Cow!

Be well. Do good.

Don