Hopscotch
Well sports fans, there have been limited to no internet connections out here in Indiana so here are the events of the last three days of tour:
When we planned out our day from Defiance we had a shorter option, a big gap of nothing, and then a longer option for a place to stay. We did not (me really) have legs of lightning that day so we called it after 40-some-odd miles in the corn fields at a small town called Monroeville. Monroeville has a decades-long tradition of hosting touring cyclists in the community center at their city park. After a phone call we met an older gentleman named Warren who showed us the whole place: bathrooms, shower, washer/dryer, industrial kitchen, television, etc. He was exceedingly kind. That evening the park had a small car show with musicians playing in the bandstand. I was feeling tired so we laid low after dinner. They even had cyclist goodie bags!
The next morning we woke up to outrageously loud thunderclaps. Uh oh. But by the time we were ready to hit the road it was no longer raining and the weather seemed to have passed. This would end up being a temporary phase of being. It was a day of windows. A few miles down the farm lanes and soybeans, then: take cover under an awning at a nursery. A bit of sun then a proper pelting. A temporary break. Then a downpour. We veered off the route a bit to stop at a larger town called Huntington that would offer the promise of a supermarket. The days ahead looked to be extremely limited on services and fresh food. Rach kindly offered to do the shopping and I stayed outside to look after the bikes. Like all good guard dogs I almost fell asleep. When Rach entered it was sunshine and blue skies. When she came out with the bags it started to rain, and then it absolutely lashed down the hardest I think I've seen this entire trip. The parking lot began to flood and my mood was low. Ten or fifteen minutes of patience brought a lighter rain so we set out once more. After a hairy highway section we returned to the quiet local roads and the Salamonie Dam and Reservoir. We endured another pelting before a perfectly timed window that allowed us to put up the tent and cook dinner.
This morning I woke to blue skies and thought the rain was over. As you may have guessed, it was not to be. We hid in the tent for a few hours and began riding around 11 AM. I really appreciated Rach's chipper attitude throughout it all. I was not feeling very good. At this point the trip for me began to swing much closer to a test of endurance than enjoyment. Later in the day a truck pulled alongside us and a guy offered us a place to stay. I couldn't place it exactly but something told me that I did not want to spend any time with this guy, let alone stay at his house. I said thank you for the offer, but we're going to press on. He seemed offended and sped off. Because we had a later start we did a shorter day and are resting our heads in a campground in Fletcher, Indiana. There is a carport here used as a picnic shelter and we've set up our tent and hobo camp directly underneath. A small lake sits directly in front of us and several locals have been fishing or kayaking as we ate dinner. Here's hoping for some clear skies tomorrow.
PS Internet very spotty. Pictures later.
When we planned out our day from Defiance we had a shorter option, a big gap of nothing, and then a longer option for a place to stay. We did not (me really) have legs of lightning that day so we called it after 40-some-odd miles in the corn fields at a small town called Monroeville. Monroeville has a decades-long tradition of hosting touring cyclists in the community center at their city park. After a phone call we met an older gentleman named Warren who showed us the whole place: bathrooms, shower, washer/dryer, industrial kitchen, television, etc. He was exceedingly kind. That evening the park had a small car show with musicians playing in the bandstand. I was feeling tired so we laid low after dinner. They even had cyclist goodie bags!
The next morning we woke up to outrageously loud thunderclaps. Uh oh. But by the time we were ready to hit the road it was no longer raining and the weather seemed to have passed. This would end up being a temporary phase of being. It was a day of windows. A few miles down the farm lanes and soybeans, then: take cover under an awning at a nursery. A bit of sun then a proper pelting. A temporary break. Then a downpour. We veered off the route a bit to stop at a larger town called Huntington that would offer the promise of a supermarket. The days ahead looked to be extremely limited on services and fresh food. Rach kindly offered to do the shopping and I stayed outside to look after the bikes. Like all good guard dogs I almost fell asleep. When Rach entered it was sunshine and blue skies. When she came out with the bags it started to rain, and then it absolutely lashed down the hardest I think I've seen this entire trip. The parking lot began to flood and my mood was low. Ten or fifteen minutes of patience brought a lighter rain so we set out once more. After a hairy highway section we returned to the quiet local roads and the Salamonie Dam and Reservoir. We endured another pelting before a perfectly timed window that allowed us to put up the tent and cook dinner.
This morning I woke to blue skies and thought the rain was over. As you may have guessed, it was not to be. We hid in the tent for a few hours and began riding around 11 AM. I really appreciated Rach's chipper attitude throughout it all. I was not feeling very good. At this point the trip for me began to swing much closer to a test of endurance than enjoyment. Later in the day a truck pulled alongside us and a guy offered us a place to stay. I couldn't place it exactly but something told me that I did not want to spend any time with this guy, let alone stay at his house. I said thank you for the offer, but we're going to press on. He seemed offended and sped off. Because we had a later start we did a shorter day and are resting our heads in a campground in Fletcher, Indiana. There is a carport here used as a picnic shelter and we've set up our tent and hobo camp directly underneath. A small lake sits directly in front of us and several locals have been fishing or kayaking as we ate dinner. Here's hoping for some clear skies tomorrow.
PS Internet very spotty. Pictures later.
Aunt Kellie and I send greetings from Yorkshire.
ReplyDeleteRide safely.
Cheri
Rain is supposed to stop tomorrow. But you know what they say about weather forecasters.....
ReplyDelete