The day started on the dark side with bucketing rain and high winds. I was drenched through within minutes-- gloves and shoes squelching away as I rode. The weather improved about mile 28 and we had a really lovely ride along Route 30 East-- still corn and soybeans but the land had become more intricately contoured-- more climbing, of course, but nice vistas. At mile 53 we picked up a piece of the Root River bike trail and stayed on it for about 13 miles. A really nice trail and a relief not to be constantly thinking about car traffic. It did start to rain again but rather pleasantly. Sadly, when we got back to regular roads we were facing a bad climb. It had all the elements I hate-- very steep, very long (one mile), pretty late into the ride (mile 72) and suddenly very hot and humid. Thinking-- too old, too fat, too steep, too hot, too tired I alternately rode and walked until I managed to get to the top. The climb had a great reward, however. We then rode along a beautiful ridge road and had a wonderful long descent down to the Wisconsin state line and soon after that, the Mississippi River.
Several people sagged today or took bumps-- we are getting tired having done 290 miles in three days. Now, it turns out that the tomorrow's ride-- billed as 75 miles-- is actually 90. I am pretty annoyed as are others. I suppose my attitude will be more positive in the morning. We lost another rider today-- the woman who was the faster even than the thoroughbreds-- she is leaving for medical reasons and says she hopes to join us again in a few days.
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