Day 36 Valpo to Kendallville, IN

Left ValPo at 615 and arrived at came tonite at 1815. Total time in the saddle was 8 hours and 30 minutes. Long day. 108.8 miles. I felt as if I was pedaling hard but only able to muster 11 mph.

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Dogs chased us on 2 occasions with me suddenly shouting "pedal faster" as they approached! Amy thought I was commenting on her speed when I was actually shouting out in fear! :)

(this photo must have been taken prior to the dog chase...)

Best part of the day was passing a horse and buggy on the left! Rode thru Amish and Menonite communities. Many riding bikes, many buggies, and 1 flatbed with a chair on it! I am definitely interested in learning more about their culture.

While riding into Wakarusa, a 77 year old gentleman rode with Amy and me. He is a 4 year survivor of colon cancer and he had just rode 45 miles prior to joining us. So cool to hear his story and see his persistence and hope in the face of great illness. He definitely was a glimmer of light and hope!

Day 35 - Coal City, IL to Valpariso, IN = 83.6 miles

Thunderstorms yet again overnight, fortunately it stopped before our morning began.

Sunshine today with less humidity, but with headwinds! Frustrating! Occasionally, I would state "Wind, you annoy me!" Of course, this would not help...but I tried despite knowing "if the winds wants to catch you, there's nothing you can do to outpace it. (joe kurmaskie)"


Entered state #9 Indiana. I decided Indiana is the #1 state with the worst roads. Basically it felt like I was mountain biking on my road bike!

Day 34 - water, water, water

Saturday July 24 started early for some of my fellow riders as they woke up sleeping in wet tents due to flooding in the campground...see photo below...this is where their tents were set up.




Thunderstorms overnite and thru the early morning hours resulted in wet riding conditions.





We rode thru 9 flooded roads - some with water up to my pedals.



Sun came out around noon. Long day today (106.1 miles from Bellvideire to Coal City, IL), but the 2 different weather systems broke it up. Hot and humid in the afternoon...I dumped water over my head around mile 80 and then ducked into a grocery store to soak up the cool air conditioning. I have come to appreciate cold beverages (OJ is my favorite); it is much easier to stay hydrated with cold liquids.

Day 33 Madison, WI to Bellvideire, IL

The day started with immediate bonus miles in Madison (which means we were confused by the directions on the cue sheets and became turned around) and 20-30 miles in the rain. Rain gear donned, yet still wet. Sun came out around the lunch stop at mile 50. My jersey dried quickly. Shorts and shoes not so much. I even successfully wrung the water out of my socks at lunch :)

Rollers (aka rolling hills) for a good portion of the day yet again. Entered state #8 Illinois! Wow. Two-thirds done state-wise.




Told jokes with Amy and Andy during part of today's ride. Objective: "tell me the worst joke you have ever heard" Bad jokes. Amy only had disdain in response to Andy's joke. Yet I laughed! Missed our turn while telling jokes = more bonus miles.

Jim, a 2008 BIG RIDER, provided DQ Blizzards for our 3rd rest stop at mile 70. Tasted good at the time, but my stomach was not too happy when I hopped back onto the bike.

Realization today: Bonus miles are okay until the end of the day. When you have to bike 94.1 miles to just get to your destination, the bonus miles add up and result in increased fatigue during the last few miles of the day.

GREETINGS

Greetings from Napoleon, Ohio! Since I last posted we have cycled from Madison, WI (leaving Friday) thru Illinois, Indiana, and into Ohio. This is our longest stretch of back to back riding days (it will be 7 by the time we arrive in Burton, Ohio on Thursday). Overall, I am feeling well. My legs feel tired, but that is a given after biking roughly 400 miles in 4 days (let alone cycling for the past month). Quick synopsis of the past few days - Thunderstorms both days in Illinois. We had to bike across 9 flooded roads on Saturday morning (water up to our pedals at times!). Indiana - biked the back roads zig zagging thru corn fields - poor quality of roads. Yesterday, we encountered many Amish people on the roads either riding bikes or with a horse and buggy. Favorite part of my 108.8 mile day yesterday was passing a horse and buggy on the left! Entered Ohio today - stopped in a small town (Evansport) for our lunch stop and two kind gentlemen bought my lunch (along with Amy and Bridgett's). Our lunches included 4 grilled cheese sandwiches on hamburger buns and 1 basket of mozzarella sticks ;) The BIG RIDE'S slogan is "Ride Big. Do Good." I am seeing many common folk "doing good" and being generous. Take care!

Journey

While riding I keep thinking of the term "journey." How it really is the process, the middle...that matters, changes me, and influences me. I learn in the process. I am transformed in the process. Some may call it the "daily grind", but this is where I grow. I do not truly know anything about the journey when it is all about the start and finish or the mileage. Life is so much more. Being present to the moment. The clouds. The sunset. Seeing each person as he/she is. Not past or future. But now. Enjoy the journey.

Day 30 "one of the best days yet!" ...plus Day 31

Day 30
Winona, MN to Viroqua, WI
65.7 + miles



With a few exceptions, today was one of the best days yet. Riding out of Winona - gradual climbs with a nice shoulder on Hwy 61.






Best rest stop ever at the Myers' in Dakota, MN. This family saw Big Riders ride by years ago and now they set out a feast for us each subsequent year. They are so generous and hospitable. Just very kind people who believe "since God has freely given, so we freely give to others."





Biked out of MN over the Mississippi and into LaCrosse, WI -> state #7.

After Chaseburg at 48 miles, we had a challenging steep 1.5 mile climb (going 6mph). One great downhill -> topped 41.5 mph at my maximum speed! Large rolling hills thru Wisconsin farmlands and Amish countryside.


Beautiful scenery and challenging hills. Despite my grunts upon reaching the top of the climb, only to see another hill, I really enjoyed the ride!

Viroqua is a cool little town complete with a bike shop and amazing co-op food store. Loved it because I was able to purchase Stonyfield yogurt, fresh raspberries, bulk granola (for a single serving) -mmm! one of my favorite meals!

While at our campsite, we had a Dairy Eating Death Match Relay.


One block of cheese,


one carton of chocolate milk,


and one carton of ice cream.

Todd, Chacko and Sam (the winner from the Kraut eating contest in New Ulm) versus Tim, Andrew, and Jeremy.


Excitement abounded!

The exceptions of the day included falling down the granite stairs at WSU on my way to breakfast (fear not - no injuries) and Andy's bike being run over by a truck at our campsite.

Day 31
Viroqua to Madison, WI
More than a century after getting off route in the road construction on the way to camp.


Beautiful sunset in Madison.