A hot one today - reached 90 degrees at about 9:30 this morning. Coke and Pepsi machines have become my most frequently visited oasis (oases?) late in my rides. I happened upon one in the little town of Ava, Illinois after about five hours of riding today. It was in a perfect setting: in a small park, in the shade, with picnic tables (also in the shade). Every flavor in that machine showed SOLD OUT. I tried to get the machine to accept a dollar bill - it didn't even begin to draw it in.
I was devastated.
Luckily I found a water spigot near one of the ball fields that did work. Probably looked like some sort of freak as I poured the entirety of the first bottle over my neck and back, consumed a second bottle in about 60 seconds (20 ounces), and then refilled two for the road.
I've decided that high humidity heat really isn't any harder to take than the low humidity heat of the West - they're just different. Eastern heat is kinda like being in a hot, wet paper bag all day . . . one that's stuffed in the rear window of someone's car. Western heat is kinda like putting any of your exposed body parts directly under one of those red french fry heat lamps . . . oh, and go ahead and dump every other bottle of water on the ground in the West as well - it's leaving your skin just as fast. I think both kinds of heat are equally cruel.
| A good example of the riding terrain today - this is in Eastern Missouri. |
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A day with terrific riding conditions (hotness excluded) . . . light traffic, rolling terrain, and great road surfaces. I suffered my third bee-sting of the ride this morning. That joker flew right into my chest and then begain to explore my jersey, then stung me good under my right armpit. Of course I smashed him to bits while he was inflicting his punishment. Turns out he came along for the rest of the ride - dead as a doornail - tucked into the bottom part of my jersey (found him at the end of the ride).
Said goodbye to Missouri today and hello to Illinois. Crossing over the Mississippi by bike was a big milestone!
| The mighty Mississippi. |
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| State #7!!!! |
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We arrived in Carbondale, Illinois at about 3pm and are staying at a Holiday Inn. There were some seriously threatening clouds this afternoon that opened up soon after we arrived, so an excellent decision. We got in some pool-time, while I showered and napped, then we had some really awesome Chinese food (if you're ever in Carbondale Illinois you MUST visit "Hunan" on Main Street - excellent) and we went to see the new Harry Potter movie this evening.
A great day. To top it all off - Amy's fortune cookie read "You will obtain your goal if you maintain your course."
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