Okay, so in this blog I will attempt to answer the question of what was the best and worst ride of the 2009 cross country bike ride. Top three worst. 1. Tucumcari NM. to Delhart Texas. Not even a close call head winds of 20-30 mph in the morning gusting to 30 mph in the afternoon. 2. Albuquerque to Santa Fee-head winds, rain and a climb to 7,800 feet. Lost one of our riders!!. 3. Not even close, although riding into Erie Penn. was very wet, Hamburg NY to Caladaguea N.Y. torrential rain the entire day. Wet and soggy feet!!
Best days riding-St. Joe Missouri to Marysville-town cheering as we rode into town. 2. Riding into Dodge City Kansas. A tailwind which allowed us to easily ride 20 mph. 3. All rides in the Green Mountains of Vermont and White Mountains of New Hampshire. While the grade was severe, the scenery was magnificent.
For followers of this blog, note that my last presentation of the transcontinental ride across America to a group of high schoolers was met with a thunderous round of applause.
I am preparing for my trip to Mexico to spend time with Hank and Carol. Looking forward to the journey and hope that all the rain inundating southern California hasn't affected the southern tip of the Baha peninsula.

The biking scene currently in central Illinois consists of the indoor variety. Ten inches of snow with the temperature at -8 degrees prevents any outdoor bicycling activity. As a result, I bike in my basement (no, no not in little circles as many of my friends have suggested, but on my trainer) or on a stationary bike at the local fitness club watching reruns of the Rockford Files. Now, I know that followers of this blog from warmer climes are seething with jealousy but, to enjoy the cooling benefits of the Midwest winter climate, you should visit or move into these areas. Okay, Okay, of course I'm being facetious. I am wondering why I have not moved to California, the desert Southwest (yes, I still remember the temperature riding from Indio to Blyth) or even (omigod) Florida. No offense Mike or Nancy but I prefer the "dry" heat to the stiffling, moisture laden heat blanket known as Florida. I am really looking forward to my visit with Hank and the lovely Carol in Mexico. February is the perfect time to leave this mess in central Illinois and we are quite looking forward to the visit. For those of you in the Midwest who follow this blog, I will post pictures of the Mexico visit so you can seethe with jealousy. And, in this case, I'm not being facetious. It will be interesting to see how much stamina and conditioning I have lost when the weather gets warm enough to return to my outdoor biking regiment.