We don't have the route sheet for today yet, but based on maps.google.com (MGC) I'm betting that we continue on SR 6. MGC produces the shortest route on 156 -- we'll see. Quincy is just on the east side of the Mississippi. I hear that we are supposed to take a ferry across the Mississippi ... that's obviously not the fastest route but should be interesting. I suppose that the practicality of that routing will depend on the flooding status of the big M.
Breakfast is at 6am (40 minutes from now) so I still have a few minutes to relax. RAP is at breakfast. I expect that we'll load at 7am and then be off. Maps.google.com comes up with a route that is 77 miles -- but the chart shows 96 miles -- that is probably a) because our motel is east of Quincy and b) the slightly different routing. The chart also shows just over 2000' of climbing, which, according to Mike's blog, is early in the route. That's fine with me !
I had ordered a package of stuff from Performance Bike a couple of days ago that should be waiting for me in Quincy -- at least according to fedex.com it was signed for by the motel yesterday. Some gels, another pair of biking shorts, another jersey (I had to throw one away early in the ride that had finally gone into holes) and a spare Wipperman chain -- Performance is out of Shimano chains until sometime in June. I have a Shimano chain with me that I purchased in Topeka but expect that I'll go through that one and have installed one more before all is said and done.
The miles add up quickly -- by tonight I will already have 1000 miles on my second chain and be over 2000 miles on the trip. Amazing. I'll check the wear because it's due for a cleaning but I won't bother if it is ready for replacement. I still have some tread left on my tires so I'll delay that switch for a few more days, but if I leave it too long I'll start getting flats. So far ... knock on wood ... I've been pretty lucky -- just the one flat "on the road". There's one fellow who is running close to 15, I think.
Norm Himes sent along some pictures of New Smyrna Beach showing the beach erosion as well as the haze in the sky -- that semi-tropical storm that has been hanging off the east coast has really pounded Florida and smoke from the fires hangs in the air. Our place is on the barrier island, so there is no direct risk of fire (over 1 mile from the mainland with a lot of water in between). Reportedly they have not gotten any rain since we left -- very unusual -- good for the ants but not the plants.
Oh -- something that I had forgotten to mention yesterday -- when we were coming into town one of my companions commented on my shorts - they were completely white side and back -- salt from sweat -- it brushed off as if I had coated myself with flour. THAT is why it's important to not simply drink water on these rides -- you need electrolytes, especially sodium -- whether in your drink or in your food.
Ok -- time to get organized -- I'll complete this blog this evening.
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Well, I had the route wrong. The ferry is several miles north of the bridge so we followed a northerly arch on Route 11, then K, then E and then south on 81 to Canton where we had our lunch SAG and boarded the ferry. The roads were rough, which really, really makes the riding hard. The physics of it probably results in the extra effort dissapating as heat since it takes a lot more effort to go the same speed. The hills were rolling again, until we hit 81 -- probably steeper hills than yesterday -- but it was a shorter riding day. At mile 62.7 we got onto 81 south, and then we gradually descended into the Mississippi river valleyfor the next 8 or so miles on smooth road -- what a treat.
After the ferry (I'll get back to that) we went east for 5-6 miles in the valley, which is very flat, then south about 15 miles until we climbed a short hill into town. We then made an obligatory diversion to a Dairy Queen ... did you know that there are over 1000 calories in a large blizzard ? No wonder that fills me up for a while ! We arrived at the motel around 1:30, about 15 minutes later than if we had come straight through -- which would have been 6 hours elapsed time; 97 miles; 5:28 rolling time. That's reasonable time for 2000 or so feet of climbing.
Our group today was slightly larger than yesterday -- Geoff, Jerry, Logan, Brian and me + Bob Papineau (the other Canadian) -- except that Geoff left a bit early and rode to the first SAG by himself (25 miles) due to his knee hurting from yesterday. We were really all going the same speed though, so he joined back up with us.
At the lunch SAG, Guenter, Steve and Jeff had arrived just before us and we all took the ferry together. The ferry is big enough to hold a Semi and is the oldest running ferry service across the Mississippi. It is definitely the scenic way to cross the Mississippi and it's a short ride, on demand (i.e. goes when there is traffic).
After the SAG we all worked together in a pace line until we got into Quincy proper at which point Jeff, Brian, Bob and Logan went straight to the hotel while the rest of us hit the DQ.
We are really seeing a lot of territory that you would not see on the Interstate. All these roads are truck & RV friendly (George
Cederholm note) -- the people are friendly and welcome visitors. My tendency is always to find the fastest way from point A to point B -- but in doing so we don't take advantage of the journey itself. If you make the journey the destination and see as many small towns as possible, your entire perspective changes.
HOLD THE PRESSES -- I just checked the itinerary and see that today had 4000 feet of climbing -- that makes more sense than 2000 -- we had a lot of hills, many of them steep, seemingly endless until we got to Route 81.
Tomorrow's ride to Springfield looks more tame -- 102 miles with 1900 feet of climbing. I was saying to Sandy last night that from here to the end of the ride is just day after day century, some more, some less. We are now over 2000 miles into our journey and have passed the really variable parts -- mountains, high elevations, chance of snow, interstate riding ... We are now into a daily routine and just cranking through the miles.
We had a new fellow join us in Topeka -- kind of replacing Kate but not really. Dan, the new guy, was encouraged to ride with the slower group the first day, leaving early. I saw him at one of the SAG stops and I could tell by the look on his face that he was thinking "I can do better than this". The first day after Topeka was the short one ... remember ? The second day after Topeka, yesterday, was the 145 miles and 7000 feet of climbing. He decided to join up with Kasper's group -- well, I saw him at the first SAG and could tell that he was not comfortable. Ken rode with him later in the day, nursing him through the last 20 miles or so -- he was ready to call for the SAG van to carry him the last 5 miles, but finally made it in.
We, as a group, don't really feel any stronger than when we started the ride, but we are, incredibly so. We have mastered the nutritional aspects, found our comfort zones, have learned to listen to our bodies -- Dan was cramping yesterday -- a symptom of dehydration. Those first days, months ago it seems, people had bad days, listened to their bodies, dropped back and took it easy to get through the day. You have to learn how hard to push yourself during the daily ride to leave enough to finish ... and to ride another day.
I saw Dan at the end of the ride today -- I don't know when he got in, but he looked much more comfortable. He's starting to get into the routine. It will take another few days for him to adjust to the continuall demand, but he'll get there. Good.
My care package from Performance Bike arrived -- I forgot that I had also ordered bar end plugs (for some reason I lost both of the ones that I had)-- they are purely decorative so I ordered the carbon fiber ones ....
Oh -- today's weather -- hot. Hot and humid. It was 88 coming into Quincy and it was positively steamy out in those fields.
Below is the typical lunchtime spread. Barb unfolds this table all day long, it seems, and at lunch breaks out all the food, plus a cooler full of meats, cheeses etc.
Here is the group of us on the ferry ... a contented bunch given today's comparatively easy ride. From left to right Guenter, Steve and Jeff -- they typically ride together -- then me, Geoff, Bob, Jerry, Logan and Brian.
Shane and the mechanics van was on the ferry with us -- Bill Reenstra was riding with him since he is awaiting bike repairs.
1 comment:
I was just saying to Geri yesterday that we're starting to learn how to "get off the Interstates". We left TX today and did about 1/3 of the trip on the "back roads" in the way to Mississippi.
We crossed the river today, well south of you, and are staying in Vicksburg.
Geri's oldest son lives about 100 miles southeast of Quincy, so we're familiar with the area, although not specifically Quincy.
Say "Hi" to Bill for us and hope he gets fixed up soon...
G.
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