Dry, Dry, Dry.  Biking in ultra dry conditions often involves traversing "dust outs" where visibility is severely limited.  As the farmers are harvesting their crops and preparing the land for the next planting season, extremely dry weather causes these conditions.  But, the good news is they don't last long and riding a bike on days like these is quite enjoyable.  Last week, a high school friend was in the area and contacted me.  We met for lunch and during the course of conversation he inquired if I ever road route 89 north.  I informed him I ride that route often, especially if it is quite windy from the SW.  Don indicated that his early ancestors grew up in Magnolia, has a family Roberts cemetery with a house built in the early 1800's and asked if I knew the area.  Of course, I am quite familiar with this small berg.  It is actually 35 miles from my front door resplendent with long flat areas combined with very hilly terrain. That doesn't even take in the number of semis that have numbered as high as 30 total.   All in all a fun and diverse ride.  After lunch we said our goodbyes so he and his girlfriend returned to the home.  The next day, as fate would have it, the temperature was to be in the high 70's with a SW wind of 20+ mph.  Yep, I road to Magnolia, (should have continued to Spring Valley for a 59 miler).   I thought how ironic the day after my interaction with Don I would be biking through the area of his ancestors as we discussed.  Sent him the above picture and once again another exciting adventure biking in central Illinois.

                      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.

 The seasons "they are a changin'".  Ninety degrees most of last week allowed many miles outside on the bike.  This week looks much cooler but rainy.  Going to bike as long as the joints, other body parts allow and the weather allows.  Long distance rides (50+) probably are finished until next spring.  But we will see.  On another note, and of a political nature, this is going to be a very interesting election.  Hopefully, the result will not affect my ability to ride a bicycle.  But, who knows.  More later.

 

 Here we go again.  After a weekend without any time on the bike as a result of how busy I was during my birthday celebration, I rode outside the last two days.  But, it looks like the next two days are going to be a repeat of last years fires in Canada.  The air quality then was so bad I could actually taste the air so I had to resort to biking on my trainer in the basement.  Predictions for the coming days are level 2 as a result of the fires in California smoking up every thing to the east.   While that is not the worst level, it can become problematic for older people that exercise outdoors.  That's me.  Can't do anything about it so it's back to the basement.  When there is extended good weather, often, I will take a shorter ride to Eureka lake and do lunch with the lovely Veronica.  Hopefully it all clears up soon so I can get back to my regular rides.  Later

 

Busy, busy, busy.  Three straight days off the bike.  Birthday celebrations, football games and various travel considerations have left me high and dry.  But the good news is, for the foreseeable future the weather and social schedule seem to be in my favor.  Russells Cycle tuned up my ride and, as usual, it is again running like a top.  Even though I feel I do proper maintenance, it always rides smoother and cleaner after my annual tune-up by the professionals. On another note, the granddaughter has not ridden her bike without trainers but I'm sure it will be soon.  Before all is said and done, I would like to have at least one ride on their bike trail with her and her family.  Stay tuned!!  

 

 FINALLY!!! Today with perfect weather conditions...wind WNW at 10 to 15 mph.....temperature mid to upper 70's I rode my bicycle from Washington Il to Champaign Il 100+ miles for my first century in over two years.  While my speed was somewhat slower than previous rides 16-17 mph I still covered the distance in under 7 hours. I did take an extra rest stop in LeRoy. I felt it is quite an a feat in that I had doubts whether I could accomplish this as it had been quite a while since my last ride of that distance.   Road conditions haven't changed much as Mansfield to Mahomet still resembled riding across railroad ties. That aside, it was a a great day for biking across central Illinois.  On a more interesting note, I had forgotten the amount of Chamois Butter to apply for long distance treks.  In addition to the "regular" areas, ample amounts must be applied to each "cheek".  This resulted in a rash on one cheek that is very uncomfortable.  A very valuable lesson that shall not be repeated!  More later