May 15 -- Lebanon IN to Richmond IN

Boy am I tired this morning. Unusual for me but I didn't get to sleep early last night and then was awake part of the night.

Today's route takes us on a lot of country roads and city streets by the look of things, but roughly following 32 and then 38 sough of Middleton, crossing I69 then cutting southeast to Knightstown south of I70 and following 40 to Richmond. We do not hit the road today until after the Roark bicycle factory tour, around 9am.

The weather looks to be reasonably warm again with winds from the SW so they will partly be cross winds as we ride south east down to Knightstown and semi-tail winds the rest of the day. It looks like there is a possibility of thunderstorms in the 4pm and onwards timeframe so we'll try and get in before that -- and with a 105 mile ride that should work out ok -- but then again you never know.

Oh well ... have to get ready ... I'll complete this later.

.........

Back from dinner --

The Roark "tour" was interesting only in that we got to see some nice bikes. It was not really a tour per se -- we walked through their shop (they build airplane parts) to where they have some bikes on display and then we were talked at a bit. It was interesting nonetheless -- they do make beautiful frames -- but it took more time that it necessary. However, we were a semi-captive audience ...

Once back from Roark, which is about 1/2 hour drive away, we loaded the luggage and were off -- around 8:45. I was tired today -- my legs usually kind of "get into the groove" within the first few miles and don't really start complaining until much later in the day (depending on the day of course). Today they started complaining from the get-go. I don't know if it was the late start or standing around for an hour at Roark -- for whatever reason they did not want to ride today. I was able to keep them at bay with some of my gels -- I can feel the effects within 5 minutes -- and then at the lunch SAG, beside the Burger King, I was not the only one at the BK getting treats -- a milkshake in my case. That sugar high carried me for the rest of the day -- but thankfully, the rest was a relatively easy day.

The winds were mostly from our back or at least the rear quarter except for the SE stretch of the ride. Jerry was feeling similar to me so we kept the pace moderate. Ken rode with us from the first SAG. Everyone seemed to take it easy today -- lounging around on the grass at the lunch SAG; cruising along at 18-20 mph on a smooth state road with a 20 mph tail wind ... stopping along the way for ice cream or shopping. We got to the motel around 4:30 -- had already been to the DQ along the way and through town to the cycle shop. Ken and Geoff both needed things.

Elapsed time -- 7:45; mileage -- 107.5; rolling time -- 6:22.

The scenery was rolling and wooded today, long flat sections with horse pastures punctuated by wooded dips with streams.

Tomorrow we have similar mileage and similar terrain. We may have weather issues ... i.e. rain. and the temperature will be quite a bit cooler -- highs in the low 60's vs mid 80's. That will require a change of clothing ... hmmm.