DAILY DOINGS: Things seemed back to normal this morning...I got all the bikes fixed from yesterday's bumps.  We had a couple wheels that needed truing and a couple shifting problems.  I was pretty busy last night with the late day, the dinner with friends, and then the mechanics...that's the reason I didn't get the website done.  So this morning I jumped in the van with Debbie driving so I could get some of my web work caught up.  Spent the morning to the first SAG in the van then jumped out with Karen to ride forward through the group so I could take some photos on our famous hilly highway 603...also marked as the Cardinal Bicycle Trail.  That means there are more cyclists than just us who brave this stretch of road.  This road is really a roller coaster and a fun, beautiful contrast to the flat farmland of the last couple of days.  In a vehicle, you can sustain zero Gs as you top several of the peaks.  The picture to the left and below right might give you an idea of what the terrain was like.  We were worried that the "I don't do hills" Florida girls, Monica and Jenny, might just get to within 10 yards of the top and then roll backwards toward the bottom and then like a marble in a bathtub, coast back and forth up one side then down the other until he bottomed out at the low point.  But that was not the case...they, like everyone else, did a great job on those tough rollers.  By the time everyone got to the SAG, they were all smiling and commenting on how "That wasn't so bad!"  We had a rider last year mention at the SAG that he was having so much fun that it should be illegal.  Unfortunately, the high humidity today made it a bit more strenuous than normal, but the descents were thrilling to everyone.

We left the motel just after day break into the mild moist air of Ohio.  There's nothing much better than to ride in the morning with the mist rising from the fields as the sun started to peek over the trees.  We were under another day of forecast afternoon thunderstorms and the rains from the past few days had left the air and ground saturated as well as the creeks swollen to capacity.  At one point, we came upon a road closed for high water, but by the time our riders got there, the water had receded just off the pavement. 

Aside from the humidity, the route today is probably one of the nicest on the entire ride, but we did have our challenges.  At two locations, there were bridges out that required a detour and anytime we get off the main route in this area you can bet there will be climbing involved...that held true except for a couple (Tim, Joe, and Larry) who braved the mud and water by taking off their shoes and wading through to avoid the detour.  What ever floats your boat I guess, but the detour was pretty well marked especially after I consulted with a local for directions.  I raced ahead on my bike with a can of spray paint marking the turns and just about pooped myself out time trialing ahead each time to stay ahead of the other riders.  Finally, I'd routed them back on route and settled in to find a good local to take some photos.  By the time I got everyone through the detour, I was behind most of the riders so I took a shortcut to 603...a shortcut that included a road they had just recently scraped for resurfacing and a 13% one mile climb.  I was looking forward to the speedy descent, but the road was so rough that I had to creep down the other side.  By the time I got to 603, I was pretty pooped to say the least. 

It's always one of my favorite days...have I said that before?  Almost the entire ride is out in the country on lonely, unlined roads.  We pass a myriad of beautiful pastoral scenes with cattle, horses, and many other types of domesticated animals dotting the landscape.  As we departed toward the sunrise, the overcast skies created a soft reflection on the roads, the fields and the large green yards that came all the way to the roadway.  I tried to capture the affect on film, but it's always more beautiful than the photo can depict (upper right).  You just had to be there...it was beautiful.  My favorite views usually include old barns that seem to be every where...many of which have stood well beyond their utility, but they still stand to identify family farm lots.  I often imagine what it was like before they became rundown over the years.  It would be great if they could talk; I'm sure they all have an interesting story to tell...I know I'd take the time to listen if they could tell us.  It reminds me of when I was a kid and working in a barn much like the ones we've seen over the past few days.  The ones from my youth have long been destroyed and but a distant memory...time marches on.

After the last SAG the hills never let up.  I'm thinking that if we would had this day earlier in the ride, several wouldn't have survived, but now they are so strong that these hills are sometimes fun.  I spent the afternoon at the SAG waiting for the last riders so Barbara could go forward to post an intermediate water stop about half way to the motel.  Everything seemed to be on track, then I got a call that Herb had fallen on some loose gravel and Debbie was with him to a local hospital to be checked out.  Then I got another call that Barb was sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire on the trailer...OK team...time to improvise...what ever happened to a "normal day?" 

Debbie finally got to me at the SAG and we loaded up to go fix Barb's flat tire.  Herb was at the hospital and in good hands.  One last check of the riders on the way in...every thing was back on track...ring..."This is Linda, I missed my turn and I'm somewhere between Wooster and the next town...HELP!  (Must still be on an adrenalin rush from the dog chase)  Barb loaded up the van and went to fetch her...ring..."This is Jay, I'm somewhere near Wooster and need directions!"  Did a dog chase him too?  So there's Barb on the cell phone like a airplane traffic controller guiding Jay to the motel after she returned with Linda.  If that wasn't enough, Debbie had to take a detour around a low bridge since she had bikes on top of the van.  She was downtown trying to find her way to the motel so all the while Barb was juggling the other two with their directions, she was talking to Debbie on the van radio giving her vectors to the motel.  Barb should have sold tickets as it was a thing to see.  Before long, we accounted for everyone and took a deep breath...only one more day in Ohio...maybe it's the eastern time zone.

Even with all the excitement, we still had time to record one of our favorite photo ops...the pink pig (above left) that sits atop one of the first climbs after lunch.  The gentleman who lives there said he just wanted to put that pig in his yard...much to the chagrin of his family.  But now, it's a landmark that has to be photographed when ever we ride through.  He's even added a "piglet" last year, but it was missing this year.

Well, we are closing in on the ocean...we only have 10 more days.  I think they are starting to realize how fast the time is going.  Blink and we'll be in the sand in New Hampshire...but for now, we concentrate on tomorrow's 92 miles...join us then.

PS:  Report on Herb...nothing broken, but he has a separated shoulder.  Doctor advised not to ride for awhile so he will be departing the ride tomorrow.  Sadly, we'll say good bye at breakfast.  His wife will arrive tomorrow and take him home.  Plans are to continue the ride upon healing.  Good luck my friend, we'll miss you the rest of the trip.

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