Finally riding

Day 39 Birch run, MI - Port Huron, MI - Did not ride again today I thought it was in my best interest, even though that is not what I wanted to do. I felt very unwanted by the staff today, I got shuffled around to 3 vehicles and 3 different drivers. Really everyone was nice and it was good to talk to different people about different things. I made the most out of the day and had as good of a time as I could in spite of everything. Everyone has been really nice and encouraging and hoping that I get back on the bike soon.

Day 40 Port Huron, MI - London, Ontario I was like a kid in a candy store today, I was so happy to have some of the aches and pains back on the bike. I did not ride the full 80 mi., I rode 50 to test myself out. I got a knee brace that a doctor on the trip suggested because he had the same injury at the beginning of the ride. It worked great and I didn't have any trouble today, so I think I'm good to go. However, I need to remember to take easy for a couple more days before I start to pick things up.
Today we went over the bridge into Canada. What they did is close down one whole lane of traffic just for us to ride across, it was amazing. That was the highlight of the day other than my leg feeling really good.
We have two more days until we get to Niagara Falls. A lot of people me included got Canadian bike jerseys today.
It is very hard to believe that we are now down to 10 days and then it will all be over in a flash. I have had a lot of good times, but it is now time to see the family.

Day 35 - I don't have any pictures from that day. Along story that I will make short. I thought I deleted all my pictures so I didn't use the camera that day. I was upset and frustrated I used that pet up energy, so I rode really hard to the rest stop. After the rest stop my right thigh started to hurt and I sort of limped into the hotel. Once I arrived at the hotel I called a photography shop and they said I could restore the pictures off the memory card. As I started to put my new memory card in I found out how stupid I was, I never put the memory card back in from the night before when I was using the computer. I was able to ice my leg down several times and it felt better.
Day 36 - We took the ferry from Manitowoc, WI to Ludington, MI across Lake Michigan. It took close to 5 hours to make it across. It was a nice relaxing time, but I was actually more tired after the trip than if I had been riding the bike.
Day 37 - This was a 113 mile day. I had purchased an Ace wrap for my thigh just in case. Well, the just in case happened. I started out slow as I had planned so I would not push it an aggravate it some more. Well, it wasn't long until it started to bother me, I made it to the 1st rest stop and thought I would just nurse it the rest of the way. Well, life did not get any easier, it got so bad that I had to stop at 64 miles. I could not push on the pedals any more or even stand, so it was time to call it a day much to my disappointment. My brain won out over my heart today.
Day38 - I saw life from a different side today. Did not ride the bike, rode the SAG wagon today. It was not exactly what I wanted, but it was in my best interest. It was something to see the operation of a bike tour from the other side, all the logistics that take place during the day is quite amazing. I got a lot of encouragement from everyone. They wanted me back on the bike because I was yelling at them at the rest stop. Day light is burning, quit talking and get on your bikes and get out of here. Don't know about tomorrow yet, I'll either take another day off to be safe or only do part of the ride. Most of this is flat and I want to be ready for the climbing when we get farther east.

Tom on the BIG bike

Day 32 - La Crosse, WI 92 miles today,we rode with Steve and Larry which we hadn't before. They are very good riders, we rode with them until our 2nd rest stop where we got something to eat. After lunch we had several miles to a steep climb. As we were going there Karen, on of the staff members, joined our group. I was leading going down the hill and I heard Tom here she comes. I had to start going to stay ahead of her. I was still ahead going into the steep climb and then I heard gummy bears Tom gummy bears. I usually eat gummy bears on a ride when I need a little pick me up, but I chose jolt chewing gum this time. It was long until Karen passed me, but I hung on as long as I could and she let me pass her near the top.

We did have a great ride on a paved trail around a river for a good 12-15 miles. Near the end of our ride we crossed the Mississippi and into Wisconsin.

Day 33 - Wisconsin Dells The picture of me on the bike was from this day in a town called Sparta. This was our 1sty day of rain since we had started. We went on a rails to trails called the Elroy-Sparta Trail, it was 30 miles long with 3 tunnels. We had to get off our bikes and walk through the tunnels which were pitch black. We took flash lights to see our way through them, the longest was 3/4 of a mile. It started to rain after the 1st tunnel and it was a mess. At the end of the trail we cleaned off our bikes the best we could and then we gave them a real good bath once we got to the hotel. It was a maze of bikes all getting washed off along with ourselves. Time for laundry so it made for a long day after riding 93 miles and half of it in slop.

Day34 - Fond du Lac, WI Today was our 1st day in 5 days that we didn't ride over 90 or 100 miles, we only did 83. Sounds funny saying we only did 83 miles, before I came on this trip that would have been a killer of a ride. The other picture was of a quarry at a rest stop right alongside of the road. A lot of back roads today past farm land and a huge lake, great scenery, it seemed a lot like PA. Stopped at bike shop, they told us about a brat and beer function at the end of town so that is where we went for lunch. We had a T-shirt exchange tonight among all the bikers, which was a lot of fun and laughter.

Tomorrow is a short 57 and then a rest day with a ferry ride across Lake Michigan.

I will start from the 1st picture, that is Ken drafting behind a tractor and wagon at the high rate speed of 13 mph. this was just after we had eaten in a nice little bar, which is the next picture. All the people were curious where we were riding from and to. We had some great conversation and then one of the locals took our picture. They all wished us good luck as we were leaving. The 3rd picture on the top is from awhile back, it is the gorge in Twin Falls, ID. The one with the sun was from yesterday on our way to Mankato, MN and the last one is some falls in the park while we were at. Sioux Falls, SD.

Today was our 2nd century in a row. It was a little draggy today, the roads weren't very good and some did not even have berms. Once we got to Rochester, we got on a real nice bike path for several miles before we reached the hotel. The best part of the day was eating lunch where we talked to the locals and had our picture taken. Oh, part of the ride was a Gary Lauerman ride, we had to get off our bikes and walk in a field around road construction.

I can't wait forever for this picture to download,I'll try to do some pictures tomorrow. It has been awhile so I'll try to summarize the past several days.
Day27- Rode to Sioux Falls, it was an absolutely gorgeous day, in the 70's,saw acres and acres of corn and soybeans. Had to change my chain after 2000 mi. I must have been tired after today, 72 mi., because I fell asleep on the bed and woke up about 12:45 a.m. with all my suitcases and junk still on the bed.
Day 28- A day off in Sioux Falls. What else would we do on our day off except laundry. We ate high on the hog - Wendy's and McDonalds for ice cream, can you top that. Later I went for a 20 mi. bike ride on their bike path around the city. It was great just strolling along, taking my time.
Day29- Off to Minnesota, the day started out with rain until we got down to the lobby ready to load our suitcases and then it stopped, so we took all the rain gear off. We started out on the bike path again, but I saw parts that I hadn't seen the day before. It turned out to be just overcast the rest of the day and that was nice for a change. I was only able to hang with Ted and Ken until about mile 50 and then I dropped off and met them at the hotel. I still rode well the last 20 mi., but didn't just have enough to stay with them today. As much as I enjoy riding with them, it was nice to just ride at the speed you wanted to do. After the ride we hit the famous DQ once again, when we got back I took about a 2 hr. nap. I guess I needed it.
Day 30- The 1st of our 2 centuries back to back. Didn't start out on a good note, after about 5 mi., I noticed I didn't have my sunglasses on. Now how do you do that? I called back and someone looked for me, but couldn't find them. I stopped and Ken and Ted went on, I met them at the 1st rest stop. There was a store there so I bought a cheap pair of sunglasses which worked out fine. Right before the 2nd stop Ted had a flat and once we got to the stop, he said he forgot something where he had the flat. He went back and once he came back we asked if he had found it. With a grin on his face he said yes, in my back pocket. We really rode well the rest of the way, at one point we asked Ken to slow it down from 30mph to 25mph, I just shook my head I couldn't believe we were saying that. Passed a huge wind turbine today that was right alongside the road. Man are they big when you are up close. Tomorrow is the second century and our last day in Minnesota and then on to Wisconsin.

THE FAMOUS CORN PALACE

These are pictures from the last 2 days, thank goodness this computer works better.

The 1st picture is when we were descending into Chamberlain. That span of bridge is now closed and under repair.

The 2nd picture is of the worlds only Corn Palace. They decorate the entire outside using corn and husks. The corn used is grown within a 30 mile radius and the corn is grown specifically for that purpose. Each year they have a different theme for their pictures on the outside. They were not completely done with yet. This is what we have ridden over 1900 miles to see. Can life get any better than that!

Today was only a 70 mile ride, pushed the last part pretty good and had a fun time. Once we reached Mitchell and were on our way to the Corn Palace Ken Mengel, one of the fellows I came out with, decided to take a dive off his bike. He got stuck in a seam between 2 pieces of concrete on the road and went down hard. He hit his head on the sidewalk and rolled into the grass. Two guys came running out and asked if we wanted to call 911, we said no he should be fine.(which we did not know at the time). Luckily he only bruised his hip and a few minor scrapes. Nothing at all was damaged on the bike. He was very lucky and at 1st we were all concerned thinking that maybe he could have broken his collarbone, etc.

Tomorrow will be our last day of riding in SD, a day off, and then into Minnesota. The weather has been absolutely unbelievable, we must be living right.

Well,no pictures are coming up for some reason. I actually purchased a digital converter drive so I could download more recent pictures and it isn't letting me do it. Today we went from Pierre to Chamberlain, SD. It sounds funny, but we only went 84 miles today. We saw more of the same bales of hay, cattle, and we added something new-corn. Had a rest stop at a little store, that had a little bit of everything, it was sort of in the middle of nowhere.

There were 2 really good climbs today that I really enjoyed, the last one was right before we came into Chamberlain. It finished off with a nice downhill into town. Of course, if we had a downhill into town then tomorrow we have an uphill out of town. Chamberlain is a small little town,not to much to it. There is one store that is like a dollar store with verizon wireless and Radio Shack all in one.

Tomorrow we go to the city of Mitchell which is known for the world famous Corn Palace. It must be world famous because I have never heard of it. I will take some pictures and hopefully I will be able to download those so you can see it for yourself.

Well today was the day, we are now officially half way, so everything is downhill from here. Soon I will be living a real life again instead of just biking, eating, and sleeping. I guess all good things must come to end sometime. Although, the best thing about being done is that I will finally be able to see my family, I have never been away for this long. I get to see Sue, Katie, and hopefully Sarah( if she can get off the farm) in Portsmouth, NH.