Distance: 106.44 miles
Elevation gain: 2,568 feet
Avg speed: 14.2 mph
Max speed: 34.1 mph
Moving time: 7:29:27
Today has been yet another day of “creative napping” for me. With each task I complete, I find my energy level dropping to the point of not having enough energy to complete the NEXT task. And so it goes: dinner, nap, dessert, nap, video editing and posting, nap while it uploads, and so it goes, until suddenly it’s nearly midnight and I haven’t yet written my blog post! (In fairness, at this point I’ve ALREADY managed to sneak in several HOURS of sleep, so I may as well get it over with now.)
Of course, one of the reasons I was PARTICULARLY tired tonight was because of the length of today’s ride and the weather conditions that it took place in - 106 miles on a hot, humid day! Fortunately for me, I did feel MUCH better this morning than I did the PREVIOUS morning, because a long hot ride is hard when you’re feeling GOOD. When you’re feeling BAD, well, that is not exactly a recipe for a good time!
Today’s ride took us once again OUT of the city, and back through the farmland of rural Illinois. We covered some beautiful areas today! We also covered some NOT so beautiful areas as well, courtesy of riding on the shoulder of some very busy roads. It is what it is I guess though, as we have to get from point A to point B. It just goes to show how much of the country is great for cycling, and how much is in dire need of some infrastructure updates (and perhaps some driver education). Although we were cautioned this morning about Illinois drivers, I found the vast majority of them to be quite courteous. I think I really only encountered two or three jerks, though those jerks were nasty enough in their own right to make up the difference, unfortunately.
As we traversed the countryside, we encountered large swaths of wooded areas that you would THINK would be quiet areas for reflection, but that continues NOT to be the case. Nope, those wooded areas continue to be little noise factories for those large, ugly insects known as cicadas!
These behemoths are EVERYWHERE, and they are not just loud but incredibly clumsy and dumb! As you’re riding along, they smack into your arms, your legs, your chest… even your face! And when you hit them, there is no mistaking it - you know you definitely hit something! Fortunately, I haven’t had any fly into my mouth… yet….
Along the way, we also crossed the Illinois River. This was an interesting one, because we were riding along for many miles over perfectly flat terrain, and the whole time you can see the bridge off in the distance, growing ever closer with each passing pedal stroke.
Of course, the day was certainly not without its humorous photo opportunities:
We are staying once again at a Drury Inn, a chain I had not previously heard of but one that I think is rapidly becoming my favorite. At MOST hotels there is a complimentary breakfast, but at Drury there is not just a complimentary breakfast but a complimentary happy hour buffet, complete with up to three alcoholic beverages per night included with your stay! Of course, with how tired I’ve been each night by dinner, the complimentary drinks just serve to put me to sleep, contributing to my “napping problem.” There is also a Steak ‘n Shake next door to this hotel, which was the site of my dessert tonight.
Of course, no riding day is complete without the day’s video. Unfortunately, I was unable to use the video from the start of the ride for reasons that I explain in the video.
And on THAT note, it is time once again to draw this post to a close. Tomorrow we ride again - this time, 91.5 miles to Champaign, IL for our fourth rest day. See you tomorrow!
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