today was a breeze. literally and figuratively.
the same winds that buffeted us and impeded our progress to near standstill conditions yesterday, were at our backs for much of today. the results? it took almost the same time to go 60 miles yesterday as it did to go 94 miles today. yesterday's 12 miles per hour average was today's 15 miles per hour.
i'm continuing to feel a deep bone weariness every morning when i wake up. it's been like that for about a week now. today, i had the same feeling. and, apparently, i'm not alone. either in the morning or by noontime, many of the other riders are expressing that same feeling. i don't know how, but the fossils, tired as they say they are, are still cranking away at nearly 20 miles per hour averages, especially on flat days.
from the outset this morning, i was just drained of energy. just couldn't get any consistent power going in my legs. small climbs seemed like mountains. even the flats, wet as they were, became a challenge. climbing a small hill in the 14th mile into the town of nauvoo, the historical final resting place of joseph smith, founder of the mormon church, took everything out of me. somehow, however, as the miles wore on, my strength came back. i don't know where it came from, but by 11:00 am, my strength was back and i was riding a consistent 18 miles per hour for upwards of fifteen minutes at a clip. i guess i'm still trying to figure out my body chemistry on this trip.
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| farm equipment along the roads in raritan |
i took this picture while riding through the village of raritan. while they look like implements of torture, they are actually used to cut and sort the straw after the wheat has been harvested. it's just one of every form of tractor, harvester, combine and other piece of farm equipment you can imagine lining the highways of many of the towns we've ridden by. i'm amazed that these farm vehicles come in all bright primary colors. all except green. green vehicles are easy to spot, as they are all john deere. nice branding!
for a town of less than 1000, the village of raritan was also unique (at least in my book) as it also sported an opera house. not something i've come across anywhere else on this trip so far.
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| rainclouds about half an hour ahead of us in roseville, illinois |
we started this morning in a cold drizzle. the cold front and rain clouds in keokuk were travelling in the same northeasterly direction as we were, only slightly faster. so as we enjoyed the tailwinds for most of the morning, we could see the rains in the distance and rode on the wet pavement from the recent showers.
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| one of america's last standing drive-in movie theaters |
approaching today's terminus in galesburg, illinois, i was stopped in my tracks by the sight of a drive-in movie theater. can't imagine how few of these there still are in the states. the best part of today's ride experience was while i was in the parking lot taking pictures of the "big screen" (the movies are projected up on the white section of the other side of the wall). the proprietor of the drive-in walked up to me, asking questions about our ride and where i was from. after our brief chat, he invited me to tonight's showings. "opens at 7:00 and the movies start at dusk." when i asked about the likelihood of showing up on a bicycle, the guy told he, "heck, i've had people come here on horseback! oh, and bring your appetite. we've got great quarter pound hot dogs and the tenderloins have been marinating since this morning." i thanked the man, rejoined my ride mates and continued on to tonight's motel, smiling all the way to the end.
honestly, when was the last time you had steaks when you went to the movies?
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