CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN TO INDIANAPOLIS, IN

Crawfordsville, In to Indianapolis, In
67.47 miles in 3 hr 58 min
11 Jun 2010

Today was team day. Everyone wears the Crossroads jersey they were given for the trip. Looks pretty cool actually.

The day was hot, and going into Indianapolis was complicated and traffic laden. Nice that it was short. One lady said I never thought that I would think that a metric century was a recovery ride, but it was.

Three great guys and superb riders decked out

Jim H, Rick W, Greg B

CHAMPAIGN, IL TO CRAWFORDSVILLE, IN

Champaign, Il to Crawfordsville, In
80.49 Miles in 4 hrs 35 min
10 June 2010

Today was "fancy head dress" day. Riders get the blas by five weeks on the bike and this is a small energizer. Saw some really wild stuff.

A very nice day. A little head wind, but not too bad. Beautiful country side. Some funny signs seen, but mostly tiny towns not looking too good, and lots of corn and soybean fields. People including the drivers are quite nice.

Jim Hall and I rode pacing each other almost the whole day. Jim is a real diesel on the flats and can motor along for miles. He and I have ridden over 8,000 miles together. Another riders was following us for a while and said, "you guys have ridden together before." No kidding. We ride a mile and switch pulls. (leads) Doing this smoothly and safely increases the speed over doing it along about 1-1.5 mph with the same energy expended

Greg the "space man" on the left and me "fluffy" on the right in our best

One of the riders actually saw the chief sorehead.
He was really nice



Me, motoring towards Jim H on a great day

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CHAMPAIGN REST DAY

Champaign Rest Day

Rest day is busy but boring. There is laundry, shopping, bike cleaning, etc to do. But without transportation, it is tough to see much. I got a massage today, and it was one of the best I have ever had. This guy was an expert. He goes to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs for a couple of weeks every summer and works on cyclist.

Doug S cleaning the bike, Don't show this to anyone in England where he is the Chairman of the Chamber of commerce

SPRINGFIELD, IL TO CHAMPAIGN, IL

Springfield, Il to Champaign, Il
88.56 miles in 5:19 min
8 June 2010

Today was Jim Hall's first day as an official rider. He as been helping on staff until now. Needless to say the weather was not great. We had rain at the beginning and end and a quartering head wind all day. We rode together the entire day pulling each other. He did most at the beginning and I did more later. We picked up Doug after about 45 miles and he rode in with us.


Jim said, "I thought we were joining the 2010 tour and not the 2006 tour." This statment comes from the fact that 2006 was notorious for some bad weather in the desert and alot of headwinds in the midwest. However, the truth is that every tour get some good weather and some bad. I just hope 2010 doesn't get alot of bad weather from now on.


I was really a tired puppy at the end, but very happy to be at rest day in Champaign. I think my legs were a little stronger today than yesterday, but the quads are really sore. Will get a massage tomorrow morning.

Jim Hall riding well in the middle of the day.

You can't see the head wind but you can sure feel it.

QUINCY, IL TO SPRINGFIELD, IL

Quincy, Il, to Springfield, Il
110.14 mi in 6 hr 20 min
7 June 2010

What a day. Really long. Doug Squires from Coverntry England and I rode most of the day together. He manufactures auto parts there. He is a great guy, rider and story teller. Seems to 'ave been everywhere.

We rode over the Illinois river which is much bigger than one might think. Have seen barges loading grain there twice.

Doug and I got a great pull from Greg the last 35 miles or so. Still was a beautiful day and I really enjoyed riding with both. Doug is more my speed. Greg is much stronger.

The countryside is beautiful, but does not show well in photos.

Beautiful patriotic barn

Doug Posing on the Illinois Bridge after watching barge load

Now here's a good sized farm tractor

Doug coming out of the Sag and Greg catching up.

We latched on for a great pull

Greg Pulling into Springfield after leading Doug and I

for 35-38 miles or so. Saved us. 110 miles is a long way.

Sorry the pic is distant, I guessed wrong. So what's new.

KIRKSVILLE, MO TO QUINCY, IL

Kirksville, Mo to Quincy, Il
78.53 mils in 4 hrs 16 mi
6 June 2010

This was one of the most beautiful days I have ever ridden. Cool until late, mild tail wind and some loss of altitude. What more could you want.

Great scenery of the eastern Mo countryside is nice to ride though, but doesn’t show well in photos. A really wonderful riding day, during which I rode mostly by myself.

Missouri Bike Store. What More could you want?

This sums up the rural Missouri economy


The Mighty Mississippi never fails to impress me.


Some really beautiful restored old homes in Quincy

CHILLICOTHE, MO TO KIRKSVILLE, MO

Chillicothe, Mo to Kirksville, Mo

76.5 mi in 4 hr 40 min

5 Jun 2010

This is 148 hill day. Like a roller coaster we went up and down and in the meantime dodged thunderstorms. Ascended about 5300 ft as well. All in all a tough day, but every day is lots of fun.

How about that Thunderstorm Cloud?

Wonderful Hills with Horses and Cattle on Most

But not this one

I rode 50 miles with Jim Hall, my pojo, who is working on staff until Champaigne. He is not a great fan of hills but a very strong rider and a great guy.

Jim Pounding Up and Down the Hills

Wouldn't Want to be in that Current

and that just a little stream

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