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Day 22

STARTING OUR LAST LEG

Yesterday Tomorrow

ROUTE: Springfield to Tuscola IL

DISTANCE: 82 miles

TOTAL CLIMBING: Not sure we had any... 900 maybe

DAILY REPORT: Overcast and cool, high 65. Light cross winds until lunch then slight tail wind to motel.

What a nice rest day...we should have ridden though as the wind was howling out of the west...isn't that the way it goes. I think everyone enjoyed the time off the bike and did some sightseeing in the downtown area. The time off was good for the staff too but we didn't really have much off. However, it was a welcomed change of pace for a day. We spent the day cleaning and washing the vans, shopping, and doing prep for the last leg of the ride. We also welcomed our stage rider Richard Hislop who will ride to Amesbury with us.

Considering today's short mileage, we decided to sleep in this morning and not load until 8:30. We were expecting slightly unfavorable winds again, but the motel rooms wouldn't be ready until about 3 anyway so we might as well have another cup of coffee and depart a little later. I tried to convince everyone that since it was Mother's Day, they should let Barbara sleep in...it seemed to work.

As I sat in the breakfast room, I noticed a couple folks having the jitters to get on the road, but we held them back to give them the AAA personality check. I suggested putting their pointer finger and thumb together and sit cross legged and go mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. It really wasn't that bad though as most just lounged around enjoying the relaxed morning. We'd be on the road quickly enough...soon it was 8:30 and poof...everyone was gone.

I spent the morning in the van until lunch where Karen and I planned to swap roles and I could ride in the last 45 miles. Most of the morning was pretty uneventful until I got a call from Andy who'd blown a rear bearing in his wheel. I checked it out and it was pretty much shot so I put on our spare and he was back in business. It must have been a day for bearings because after I started riding, my rear wheel starting making noises I'd never heard from a bicycle before...and I've heard lots of strange noises from bikes. I'm sure I scared cattle within 5 miles of my location...I know it got my attention. My bike shuddered and loud squealing permeated the quiet country air. I checked my wheels and everything seemed OK...so I started riding again. I rode about 5 miles when it happened again...what's with this? I stopped by where Karen was parked and put her rear wheel on my bike and finished my day without any further problems. When I got in, I took my wheel completely apart bearings and all and could find nothing that appeared to have caused such a noise...we'll see how it goes tomorrow. At least I have newly greased bearings.

It's hard to believe we've come this far in just a few short weeks. Costa Mesa seems like a lifetime ago and we are starting to realize the ride is quickly coming to a close. We've many more miles to ride, but we are less than two weeks from our destination. I hope the riders don't focus on Amesbury just yet...there's still too much journey to enjoy before we get to the end.

We've really had some good weather and the terrain has flattened out...the mountains of the west and the constant hills of Missouri are but a far distant memory. Tomorrow's winds are forecast to be behind us for a change...we could use it for sure. Now we are in farm country with alfalfa fields and freshly planted corn fields that stretch in every direction. Since the corn is only about 3 inches high, we can see forever...not as far as the plains out west, but close. It's also nice to see something besides open range. Here we see lots of trees and small towns dotting the landscape...friendly folks too. Riders that come from other countries are always amazed at how fast the scenery changes out here...I am too.

Tomorrow we ride into my boyhood hood...Indiana, small town America. Again, except for the corn, we'll see another change in the scenery...small towns about every 8-10 miles. Check in and see what we are up to...we're on a roll.

YOU DON'T SAY:

"While I've been gone, productivity in my company has gone down 20% reading bamacyclist every morning."

"I didn't know what to do with myself this morning when I got up."

"I may have to have therapy after sitting around for an hour this morning."

"It's so nice today...do you think we can ride in this?"
"Probably not...maybe Mike can have a hose set up about half way to the SAG and hose us down and a big fan to blow in our face to keep us honest."

PHOTOS OF THE DAY
Well, somebody's got to do it.	We always look to the Capitol building to see which way the flag is blowing. I've never seen it blowing toward the east...at least today it was pretty limp when we left.
I'd been looking for these guys all morning...then they turned up in "BOLIVIA!" I didn't see that on the route sheet.	s I guess straight, right, and behind us is south.