Monday, July 6, 2015

Day 36 - Champaign IL to Crawford IN - 81 miles

I was pretty happy to be riding a day with only 81 miles! We started off with a few other riders and we were seldom completely alone up to the first sag stop. We rode over a rotten stretch of road that had been freshly graveled - yuck! - and saw quite a bit more farmland.



I thought these silos were quite picturesque. A bit overgrown though.



Hay! Or maybe straw?



Pedaling through our last few miles in Illinois.



The last mile before Indiana, it was as though Illinois had just given up on the road. We were relieved to find that Indiana maintenance was better - at least for that stretch. Indiana is our eigth state on the trip and the first state that I had not previously been in. About 10 miles after the state line, I just seemed to lose any energy and was ready to lie down on the side of the road. We were only about 5 miles from the sag stop and a Subway but I just felt like I had nothing left. I downed some Gatorade, ate part of a Clif bar, and kept going. Slower though! We stopped for lunch once we made it to the Subway and I was hoping for a surge of energy but it never really came. I was ok and pedaled on but I think it may be the most tired I've been on the trip. We just eased up on the tempo and ended up stopping a bit for some photos - just took an easier pace.



Hillsboro! I think the book I read was referring to a Hillsboro in Pennsylvania but this works!



Found this in Hillsboro as well. You can spot Al and Gnorman in this photo.



We rode pretty easily in from Hillsboro - another 15 miles or so. I was counting down the miles for sure. Nothing too tough but I was so ready to be done!



We came into the motel as a group - the last four out on the road. Rick, who was finishing his last day with us, Patty, Fiona, and me. Rick is continuing on with his brother heading north to visit family. It's been fun having him along with us!

After a shower we snacked on some chips, went across the road to Burger King for shakes, then out for dinner at a creek side restaurant. Nice setting, relaxed meal, then back to the room for some sleep! 

2 comments:

  1. It feels a bit muggy right now in the Indiana, Illinois region. That's probably why you were having a tough time riding.

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  2. Thanks for an excuse! ;) I definitely am not used to the humidity.

    ReplyDelete