This is one of those times that make the tour so mentally difficult. I've felt this way a couple of times on tour, very low, but somehow I've managed to push thru to complete the day's ride.
Anyway, now to the good stuff. My normal routine is to wake up 2 hours before departure time to eat a big breakfast and get dressed and apply all the proper preparation lotions like sun screen, bag balm, chap stick then packing and delivering my 2 tour duffel bags and of course to spend some time stretching before the ride.
Regarding breakfast: our normal breakfast is provided by the hotel and has the usual assortment of hot and cold cereals, fruit, yogurt, bacon/sausage and scrambled eggs, toast etc all delivered buffet style. One of the items I have developed a fancy for is the waffles that you cook yourself by pouring the batter onto the open grill and then closing and flipping on timed command. I never eat this kind of food normally so this is a real treat for me. I don't have to worry about eating too much.
Anyway, a new device has surfaced at the last couple of hotels, best described as a pancake machine. It apparently is filled with batter and all you have to do is press a button and in about a minute two pancakes pop out the side and plop right onto your plate. Its actually pretty fun. Here is the masterful machine....
Today the tour directors did something very unusual, they released all riders, both early birds and rabbits, at the same time, 0715. This created quite a bunch up for a while until the groups naturally spread out but this is what a little of it looked like.
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| And they're off..... |
I'm a slow starter so I rode the first 15 miles or so with some of the early birds but as the day wore on Mike K and worked our 2-man rotating pace line against the wind and were the 5th/6th to reach the hotel. As I mentioned, there are 3-4 riders in the rabbit category that stuck together and they really flew, beating us in by about 40 minutes.
Today we reached the 2000 mile milestone and crossed the Mississippi River into IL!!!!
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| That's a long way on a bike with such a tiny seat, but my two bike shorts help!! |
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| That's the Westbound Bridge; We're on the Eastbound Bridge |
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| The Land of Lincoln |
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| Some beautiful period homes in Quincy |
After laundry and lunch, Michele and I took a walk along the Mississippi River bank on the IL side. Very beautiful although the wind was still SE at 20, temps about 90 degrees and probably 50-60% humidity :(
Click here for details of today's ride:
Day 30: Kirksville MO to Quincy IL by xctom2012 at Garmin Connect - Details
3 comments:
Hey now, quit yer snivelin'! LOL From this side of the screen it appears that you're do a fabulous job of keeping those mental demons at bay! Keep up the good work!
Ken
Hi Pop!
I had to comment on this entry, given it hit so close to my heart (the food part, that is). I've been curious how the food has been and I am glad you're not starving. I'm also glad you guys are sharing the waffle maker. I have seen so one too many showdowns around that loud beeping thing...
Anyhow, just thought I would let you know I read your blog daily and am cheering from afar; and I am still trying to figure out what's up with the tilting utility poles in Kansas.
I was also wondering if anyone listens to music during the ride or in the morning to wake up, kind of like the Shuttle crews would wake up to their chosen rock songs. I think Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive" would be great waffle music! Give it a shot, you may get a kick out of the lyrics:)
Good luck today and I'll talk to you soon,
Tim
I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not beleive because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. John 10:28-9
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