Brad – Page 8 – Pedaling America

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Brad

Heatwave (July 20)

I changed my intended route because of the heat. I had planned to head north to state highway 6, then west. After looking at what was ahead, I noticed there would be no place to stop in case the heat hit me like yesterday. The closest campground or motel was about 50 miles away. If I committed to that route, I would be locked into a long day. After yesterday, I felt I needed some options closer just in case. So I headed out of Hannibal on US 36. It is a four-lane divided highway, which I don’t particularly like, but it did have a nice shoulder.

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Brad · 2 Comments

“Damn, it’s hot” (July 19)

“Damn, it’s hot.” Those were my first words as I climbed onto my bicycle this morning. I have a feeling that is going to be a common phrase over the next week or so. I don’t know if it was technically hotter today than yesterday, but it sure felt that way. The first 12 miles were fine, but after that the heat really got to me.

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Brad · 3 Comments

Icehouse (July 18)

The forecast today was for a hot and steamy day with a heat index near 110 and winds out of the west. While it was plenty steamy, I don’t think it ever got as hot as forecast and the humidity dropped as the day went on. If the wind did come from the west, it was so light that I couldn’t tell. I think it was actually more from the south.

When I crossed the Illinois River, the terrain became much hillier and reminded me a bit of eastern Connecticut. The climbs were not particularly steep, but some were pretty long. The change in scenery was kind of nice.

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Brad

Tailwind (July 16)

I had planned to take a rest day today, but the wind was coming out of the east. Even though it was a very light wind, I thought I should take advantage of the tailwind when I had it. I started the morning on Route 66, for a few miles at least. The Mother Road veered off toward downtown Springfield while I continued down a bypass along the west side of the city. There is also a bike path near the bypass, but the shoulder on the highway was wide, the roadway flat and, since it was Saturday, there was very little traffic. So, I stayed on the bypass.

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Brad · 2 Comments

Lincoln-Douglas (July 15)

So much for getting an early start. I didn’t leave Clinton, IL, until a little after noon. The day was much cooler, so I didn’t really have to avoid the sun today. When this journey is over, I will remember Illinois as the state with the highways lined with blue flowers. Just about every highway in the state I have ridden down has been thick with chicory like a blue line guiding me through the state.

Posted on July 15, 2016July 15, 2016 by Brad · 3 Comments

A Forest of a Different Kind (July 14)

The corn has really grown and is about seven feet tall now. It kind of creates a forest of a different kind. While riding by a corn field, there is no way to see above the corn to see what is around. Unlike the forests in the east, you can’t look through the stalks to see what else is in the field.

This forest of corn even had its own river.

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Brad · 2 Comments

Shimmering Cottonwoods (July 13)

Highway 24 west of Watseka is pretty straight. I spent the better part of the morning watching the water tower of the next town get gradually bigger until I passed it, then watching the water tower of the next town get gradually bigger. Between Watseka and Crescent City, highway 24 has a narrow but decent shoulder, so I stayed on the highway rather than finding a county road. West of Crescent City, however, there were rumble strips that take up about half of the already narrow shoulder. After threading myself between the rumble strips and the edge of the asphalt for a few miles, I headed south to the closest county road. It was a pretty good choice as it intersected the next highway I was looking for at a truck stop and I was able to get a map of the next state I will pass through.

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Brad · 2 Comments

Central Time Zone (July 12)

The campground I stayed in was right next to an interstate highway and you could hear the traffic all night long. Surprisingly, it didn’t affect my sleep. I left camp a little after 9:00 this morning. About a mile later I stopped at a truck stop to get something for breakfast. It was 8:10. For a moment, I thought I broke the space-time continuum. Then I realized there are several counties in northeast Indiana that are in the central time zone and I was just further north than I realized.

For over 30 years, just about every time I have gotten on a bicycle, I imagined that I am riding across the country. The further west I go and with each state line I cross, it sinks in a little more that this summer I am not just imagining it, but actually doing it.

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Brad · 1 Comment

Sweat (July 11)

I have read that humans are the best endurance runners of all the animals. We may not be particularly fast, but we can run further than other land animals. There are many adaptations that help, like our upright positions and swinging our arms to counterbalance the strides. Imagine how terrifying our ancient ancestors must have been to other animals. Once they start chasing you, they just don’t stop, ever, until you collapse from exhaustion. Then you become dinner.

Some of the adaptations are also useful for bicycling long distances, day after day. Sweating, for instance. The ability to cool the body by means other than panting. Not only does it help regulate body temperature, but it allows us to take in extra oxygen through our mouths to help keep our muscles going.

The past two days, the sweating has been intense. I’m not sure why. It hasn’t been particularly warm nor humid. All of my clothes have rings of salt on them. Usually, I can get a couple of days out of my shirts, and three from my cargo shorts. Not the past couple of days. I have never gotten salt rings on my cargo shorts until these past two days.

Posted on July 14, 2016 by Brad · 2 Comments

2k (July 10)

Today was just about a perfect day for riding. The temperature stayed in the low 80’s; the sky was mostly sunny; the humidity dropped below 50% and what little wind there was came from the south. I can handle a crosswind. With the terrain remaining mostly flat and a good night sleep last night, I just kept pedaling.

At some point today, I passed 2000 miles for this trip. To celebrate, here are some pictures of Indiana farmhouses. . .

And an oddly shaped tree . . .