My new biking buddy.  He couldn't ride today as he had to keep an eye on the worms
 

Busy, busy, busy.  In addition to the grand parenting duties in Glen Ellyn and sons birthday in Carbondale, my outside rides have been drastically reduced.  Also, it was a windy week so the bulk of my rides were inside.  The good news is that today was a perfect biking day.  Temperature ranged in the mid 70's with a little wind at 10 miles per hour.  Eureka lake was my destination as the lovely Veronica suggested we dine on sandwiches and drink.  As is the nature of things, after a photo op from the above pic, I began my trek back to Washington.  At the east end of the lake is a sharp but short climb.  I usually get up to  speed to traverse the climb.   Everything was going to according to plan but I spied our van stopped at the corner before the climb.  I was wondering why  Veronica stopped so I attempted to pass her.  Just as I began to pass, she began making a right turn into my path.  Wouldn't it be interesting to have my third hit by vehicle be from my own wife.  Luckily she heard me yell and stopped the turn.  Asked why she was there she said she wondered what was taking me so long to catch up.  How ironic that if she hits me, our friends would contend she did it intentionally and they would have no problem with that.  Ha, Ha.  The house that has the worm sales were having a family gathering in their driveway and I had a quick conversation about the worm business with the wife which is why I was delayed.  She asked if I would post the above pic on their website so I did.  Anyway, another great day to ride bike in central Illinois.

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting ride of 55 miles yesterday.  Wind was favorable, temperature low 70's and a beautiful day for biking in central Illinois.  As usual, with a NNW wind of 15-20 mph and I want to do an outside ride, I decided, on the spur of the moment, to ride to LeRoy.  I use route 150 which includes several climbs and a 45 mph downhill known as "Freddies Hill".  Things were going well until I passed Downs.  A wide load semi began passing me.  I'm on the far right shoulder as far to the outside as is safe, and, as the vehicle passes I see it is taking the entire roadway including on-coming lanes.  As it passes, and unfortunately I had not turned on my camera, it misses me by less that a foot and, to make matters worse, blared its horn as it went by.  Of course, I gave the driver the "one fingered salute".  My thinking was, where was I supposed to go to avoid this jerk.  Maybe, he thought I should ride into the corn field near the road.  Continuing along the highway, it wasn't long before his buddy in another "wide load" taking up the entire road passed. It too came as close as it could and barely missed hitting me. The trailing vehicle blared it's horn as it passed.  Again, I indicated my displeasure by giving him the finger.  Afterward, I thought if I really wanted to piss them off, I could have taken the entire half of the highway which is my legal right. In addition, they are required, by law, to pass me by three feet.  My many, many miles riding the highways and byways of this country were fraught with near misses and twice actually being hit by motor vehicles. While I rant about this I do recognize this is part of biking and there is nothing I can do about it unless I stop biking.  Of course, I won't do that and hope my demise will not be by some ignorant motorist who is a hater.  Enough and stay tuned.