We woke up to sunny skies...and virtually no wind! --- I take that back....no 'head wind'.
We had tail winds most of the ride today!
We crossed another state line, we are now in Illinois. We are in Kewanee....about 3-4 hours south of Chicago.
We rode approx. 80 miles...... We had tail winds with us 85% of the time -- it was exactly how you want a long ride day to go! It was a blast....we rode at 20-23 mph for many, many miles (on flat roads - that's a great speed for not being down hill).
The terrain today was mostly flat....we had a few gentle rolling hills....a really peaceful ride the entire day.....practically no cars on the back country farm roads!
We saw hundreds of acres of corn and soy beans....rode past several cattle farms....and even a few pig farms ( you can smell those several miles away). No one took many pictures today because no one wanted to stop and break the buzz of flyn' with the tail winds ( once you get a tail wind you just want to fly with it!)
Nothing terribly exciting to report other than everyone was in a realllllly good mood today -- we were all smiles -- just so happy to finally have some sunshine and no head wind.
Tomorrow, we will do another 80 miles ---working our way east....we will end in Streator, Il.
A couple of photos to share .....
Me testing out a new bike yesterday at a local bike shop (a really cool shop we visited on our day off)...
Me and my favorite riding partner! (she's AMAZING - 72 years and a STRONG rider).....
Hi Jeanette,
ReplyDeleteWe got back from Colorado late last nite so didn't get to read your blog until today. We were driving NORTH from Des Moines at the same time you were on the eastern edge of Iowa and we could barely keep the car on the road!! Semi's were having trouble occasionally, too. I kept thinking of you. I'm glad you're safe and FINALLY had a beautiful day to ride. When I was flying I would tell my passengers "if everything went perfectly, you wouldn't have a story to tell!" You've certainly got PLENTY of stories already - hope you can coast a bit - a lot of joking and not much pain, bad weather or danger would be just fine for awhile.
So, I'm putting in my order for a whole lot more days like today!!!
Keep the faith, you're one amazing woman!
What a pleasure it must have been to finally have the wind at your back. You have all deserved it.
ReplyDeleteHope there are more days like it. The pig poo is awful. Hope you don't have more of that. Ride safely.
(PS - can you redo your pix? they came out small this time and you on the old bike deserve to be seen in full format - so funny)
Glad to hear the weather is cooperating with all you riders. From what I remember, Illinois is rather flat but beautiful landscape so hopefully this portion of your ride will be easier on your knees. As I feel the delicious warmth of the sun here in California, I think of you, feeling the same so many miles away on your amazing journey.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
-M
Finally prayer has been answered. Good weather
ReplyDeleteand a good riding day. Thank you God! Your 72 year old friend is just a kid.
Easy does it.....you have a long way to go.
Suki sends her love and misses you.
Okay... Jasper now wants that bike. He wants to know if the soy bean farms are actually Edamame? Cuz, he likes them. He told me the other day he was a vegetarian. I told him he doesn't eat veggies, you need to eat veggies to be a vegetarian. He said he did, Edamame.
ReplyDeleteLove you, mean it,
Jennice