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Cycle
Across America
With Judy ... Again!
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Judy's JournalTour Days 30-39Here's Judy's journal and her photos from Days 30-39 of her trip -- from Quincy, Illinois to Niles, Ohio. Click on the links below to see her journal entries from other parts of the trip. Training and Days 1-9 Days 10-19 Days 20-29 Days 40-50
Day 30, Sunday, June 11, Kirksville, MO to Quincy, IL Tour Route: 74 miles but yours truly biked "zero" miles
Well my focus & resolve didn't last long. I awoke several times during the night to thunder and lightening. But thought that it would go away by morning. (As I recall this was the first day we encountered rain on my XC03 tour.) Anyway, by morning the wind had increased and the rain had not stopped. It was whipping around outside the motel at gusts of 35mph. I made a decision that I don't do "rain"! (The morning I had my accident in Richmond, IN, I was freezing cold from rain and I was extremely tired. I broke away from the group wanting to get to the motel. Not a good decision.) So I rode in the Sag Wagon w/Margaret Schwartz, our wonderful Sag Queen and I had a lot of company....a full van. We got to the hotel in Quincy and it probably was the best rest that I had in several days. Julia and I went to K-Mart and got some things we needed and my legs got the needed rest from the awful MO hills. They took their toll on all of us. By morning I was ready to tackle the next day of 107 miles. JudyP-M
Day 31, Monday, June 12,
Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL: Tour Route:
106.6 but yours truly biked 108.4 miles according to my GPS
Garmin This was probably one of my very best days! I started out by myself but at the store in Liberty, Jim Morris and Dave K. caught up w/me. They were quite tired from the grueling hill day before from Kirksville to Quincy. So I hung in w/them for the rest of the day. Jim M. is very encouraging! Dave is a marine. Need I say more? I think he would have liked for me to disappear because I was breaking up his odd couple twosome. But because Jim said that I was doing OK and he also gave me some great pointers w/regard to riding in a pace line....I stayed. My legs were fresh and the two guys legs were tired so I was able to bike the full mileage w/them. It was a "trip". I had 2 blowouts, back to back and both guys were great in helping to fix them for me. Put a new outside tire on my back wheel and that put us about an hour behind the group. (This was my thrid flat for the tour so far.) We were dead last getting in to Springfield. Mack followed along in the sag to make sure we were OK but we made it in to Springfield, IL about 5:15PM. As I passed the hospitality room, the group from the 2004 tour had beer and treats waiting for us. I didn't even go to my room. I just sat and drank two beers and they were the best beers that I have ever had! Then we had "route rap" and I told Mack and Julia that I was going to go to my room and skip dinner. Asked Julia to bring me something to eat. Got my bath and just relaxed. They brought me a hamburger and I don't think I've ever had a better one. Then Bryan Baker from the 2003 tour that I had been on previously rang the room. We talked for about an hour, I think. He told me that there is a bridge out on our route to Niles, OH. He and Anne & Tyler and his sister-in-law, Joanne will meet us at one of the Sag stops. (Bryan is the one who proposed to Anne at Revere Beach in front of all of us in 2003 and was the perfect ending to our tour! And, I think he gave her a cigar band as a "ring".) I mentioned to Bryan that he should get in touch w/Tracy, tour director and tell her about the bridge. He has an alternate route that is a bike route that would get us off the highway w/the traffic. This was a great day on tour for me. I hope to bike w/the twosome again tomorrow.
Day 32,
Tuesday, June 13th, Springfield, IL to Champaign, IL: Tour Route:
83.8 miles but I only biked 65.2 miles according to my bike
computer. I caught up w/Jim Morris at Dave K. at the outskirts of town. Biked w/them both until Dave decided to slow down. He was not feeling well and was trying to get a cold. I think he biked w/Russ and Bob B. I continued on w/Jim Morris. He is a great biking pat. I enjoy biking w/him. We alternated every mile taking the lead into the wind to give some relief to the person behind. This wind on the entire trip has been incessant. It is wears you down. But on this day I was also hassling my saddle sores again. They had reopened and become raw and I couldn't find any position that didn't cause me a lot of pain. I tried not paying attention to it.....but that was like not paying attention to someone "sawing off your arm"! I hung on as long as I could and finally quit at Deland. Got in the Sag wagon and felt defeated again in my resolve to stay on the bike. But, when something is causing you a lot of discomfort.....you finally have to back off. Julia and I got our wash done and then we went to eat at the "lobster" place. (Duh, can't think of the name.) Tomorrow is a "rest day" and I need to clean my bike's chain. I need to send some stuff home too. My bags weigh too much and I still have computer stuff that I should have sent home w/my broken computer. We are getting closer to Boston! Am I having fun? Yes, I am losing some weight, (11 lbs) and I am enjoying getting to know the group. It is different than in 2003 but some in the group, I will continue to be friends with after it is over. That's what it is all about, "friendship"!
Rest Day:
June 14th, Champaign, IL: What a great day
this has been! We slept in and then I came down for coffee and I
tried to answer all of my emails. I want to thank all of you who have been
so faithful to cheer me on. My legs have been like mush. The best
part is that I have lost 11 lbs! Everyone sez that I am not eating
enough....but my other goal has been to shed a few pounds as well as to raise
money for the scholarship fund. At breakfast, Ricky
Wardell came up to me and asked if I was raising money biking for this tour.
I told him, "Yes"! There was a TV reporter who was at the hotel
taking sound bites for the 6:00PM local news station. They had interviewed
Ty and she was interested in interviewing a woman too. So I came out and
talked w/her for awhile. It is supposed to be on the 6:00PM local TV news,
Channel 15 tonight. I'm sure we will watch it in the lobby of the hotel.
Afterwards, I washed and cleaned my bike chain and made it all shine.
Ricky Wardell also lowered my seat in the front to see if it would help my
saddle sore problem. Let's HOPE! Then I went and got
a pedicure and my nails done and found the stuff that I will use tomorrow to
decorate my bike helmet. This is what we are supposed to do for tomorrow; come
up w/a theme to put on our helmets as we bike out of town. Tracy is always
coming up w/something! I had sent via UPS
my medication to each of the "rest day" hotels. What I really use is
the Celebrex which is an anti-inflammatory for arthritis. For some reason
the Drury hotel here did get it....but they couldn't find the package. The
hotel manager, Mr. Victor Patterson, made arrangements w/the local Walgreen's
(my pharmacy) to pick up some Celebrex. He took me there personally in his
car. What service and what a wonderful thing for them to do! He paid
for a month's supply for me. This hotel is grand, the rooms are great,
there is internet service, and laundry facilities. There is really nothing
more that we as CrossRoads participants need. This is a first class place.
I rate it highly as it is the best we have stayed in so far on our trip. Talk atcha tomorrow. Thanks for checking in on my blog. JudyP-M
Day 34, Thursday, June 15th, Champaign, IL to Crawfordsville, IN:
Tour Mileage:
79.2 but according to my bike computer, I did 80.8 miles. Avg mileage:
13.8 miles Total Time:
5:50.08 Max Spd: 28.8
mph This was crazy hat day! We left the hotel w/decorated helmets. Some were really original and cute. I had on my red/white/blue CrossRoads shirt, I bought a USA vest, and I had a red/white/blue ribbon w/stars tied to my helmet. At the last minute, I purchased one of those mylar helium balloons w/a USA motif. I can tell you that everyone passed me by as I was "in drag" w/the balloon on my helmet. When I saw Mack at the first Sag stop.....I got rid of the vest and the balloon and kept the bow. From the Sag stop, I started up w/Sharyn Fettrow and Julia Zahn. Then they sagged further down the road and so I caught up w/Elmer and Jim Hall. Elmer wasn't feeling well and so I tucked in behind the two guys all the way to Kirksville. It was a great day of biking for me. It was still a headwind and sometimes a crosswind.....so nothing was new in that department....but the weather was cooler and that made the day for me. I melt in the heat! Also, I had sent my huge camelbak home and so was only carrying my 2 water bottles rather than the 30 lb. tank of water on my back. I hope to upload some of the cute helmet pictures too. JudyP-M
Day 35,
Friday, June 16, Crawfordsville, IN to Indianpolis, IN: Tour Route:
64.0 miles but I biked 66.1 miles Total Time:
5:02.31 Max Spd: 29.9
mph Avg Spd: 13.1 This was the day
that we biked into Indianapolis, IN. I was hoping that my former roommate
from 2003, Rosemary Thomas would be able to meet us at the Gentry farm....but
Lew, her husband is not doing well. I tried to call her home once but got
no answer. I think I had her correct telephone number. Rosemary is
the one who biked every inch of the tour in 2003 and she was 70 years old.
She is much stronger than I but I must say that in 2003 we did have some
"tailwinds". We have not lucked out w/tailwinds except for about
60 miles total for this whole tour. The staff says that this has been the
toughest tour they have ever had in regards to the wind. I biked to the
farm by myself and then I hooked up w/Sharyn Fettrow and Bob B and Russ Fetrow
after the Sag. The Gentry's have a
farm and a huge shade tree in front. They let us use their restrooms and
we set up our sag in their front yard. In previous years we have gone from
there to the Indy track and have ridden around the track on our bicycles.
But apparently this year they had something going on and we couldn't. Some
of the guys decided to go to the Veledrome in Indianapolis.....but I passed on
doing that. In 2003.....I tried it and fell flat on my butt! I got
road rash on my right leg and arm and decided that I didn't want a repeat
performance. When we came to the
point where we needed to make a decision....I was still biking w/Russ F. and Bob
B. and waiting for them from time to time. We had eaten lunch
together earlier and we were biking the same pace. They made
it thru the stop light and I didn't make it in time. I waited and
then crossed. Those 2 turkey's didn't wait for me and I kinda got
perturbed about it. I finally figured out by my cue sheet where I was and
so biked on by myself. This XC06 group is like a big
"dysfunctional" family. Some real characters we have!
Finally made it to the hotel about the time that the "big boys" came
by in their paceline. They had stopped to go to the velodrome and were
coming in lickety split! As least I was reassured that I was on the right
course. Did all the mileage and then some. A good day for me. When we got to the
hotel, I met Pat, Mack's friend, her daughter, Sarah and Sarah's friend, Mary.
Then later in the evening, Chris came in w/her son, Joe and his wife.
Christine is Mack's twin sister from the UK. She is so funny and outgoing!
She is planning on biking some w/the GOBER bike ride w/her son and
daughter-in-law. She is NOT a biker so she has found herself some other
women and they call themselves the "Wild Bunch". Mostly they
will be following the bike tour in a car. Another great day w/a headwind
and crosswind. Monotonous aren't we? Talk atcha manana. JudyP-M
Day 36,
Saturday, June 17th, Indianapolis, IN to Richmond, IN: Tour Mileage:
82.5 miles but I biked 83.7 miles Total Time:
6:08.05 Max Spd: 27.4
mph Avg Spd: 13.6
mph Need I say that we
had another HEADWIND for most of the day? Started out feeling sluggish and
stopped to get some Gatorade from Mack at the Sag wagon. I was biking w/Sharyn
Fettrow, and Julia Zahn. Russ and Bob B. were behind us a little. As
we came to a huge incline....Julia's chain got stuck. After I got up the
hill and across the intersection, I waited for her so I told Bob B. and Russ to
go on w/Sharyn and I would wait for Julia. She walked her bike up the hill
and then we started off again. When I saw the sag wagon.....I needed to
stop for Gatorade again. Julia said she would go on and bike slow. I
yelled at her that "she never bikes slow!" I began trying to
catch up w/her and at a turn.....I could see that she had gone straight instead
of turning. I started to go after her to catch her and turn her
around...but decided that I would tell one of the staff and I followed after
Sharyn. When Lynn came by in the truck.....I put my hand on my head and
flagged her down (that is how we signal to them). She stopped and I told
her that I was sure that Julia had gone straight and had missed the turn.
Lynn turned around and went looking for her. When I finally reached
Margaret, Our Sag Queen and the official sag, I waited for Lynn to bring Julia
there. We started biking again together. The sun had come out and it
began to get very hot. I was hungry because we had missed breakfast due to
a "time change" error on the cue sheets. We stopped at a cute
little cafe around 12:30PM and I had a great tuna sandwich wrapped in a tomato
soft tortilla. Really great! Then Julia said she wanted to get in
the sag w/Bob B. and Russ. That is kinda demoralizing for me. Mack
showed up about that time and the 3 rode into town w/a friend that was following
the tour. Mack took the bikes and waited for me at various turns to make
sure that I had enough Gatorade. We just couldn't do w/o Mack and
Margaret. They are the greatest! Now to tell you
what I was apprehensive about for this day. This was the day that I had
crashed into a car on my XC03 tour. It was close to the old town of
Richmond....but I couldn't tell exactly where on the route it happened. I
thought I was going to turn right....but our sheet at that point showed us
turning left. So I made it thru this day w/o an accident. I am
positive that I will make it all the way to Boston this time. Tomorrow is
a 100 mile plus day and so I will bike it by myself. I'm not going to bike
w/Julia or anyone else. Doing 100 miles is hard enough w/o trying to bike
at someone else's pace. JudyP-M
Days 37, Sunday, June 18th, Richmond, IN to Marysville, OH
Tour Route:
103.3 miles but I biked 106.0 miles according to my bike computer Time: 7:14.59 Avg Speed:
14.6 mph Max Speed: 29.5 mph We finally had a
change in the weather! We had our first tailwind and it was a fun day of
cycling. Even though it was over 100 miles, I enjoyed myself and felt like
I was flying most of the day. Because I am writing this several days after
the ride.....I can't remember much other than it was a good day for me. I
should have written down some notes. There were two former CrossRoads
Cyclists who met us in Marysville, OH and they brought cookies and beer.
Because I didn't write down their names.....I can't properly thank them for
their generosity. If you read this....please send me your names and
emails. I apologize for not remembering! JudyP-M
Day 38, Monday,
June 19th, Marysville, OH to Wooster, OH: Tour Route:
96.7 miles but I rode 100.26 miles Time:
7:24.1I8 Max Speed:
37.1 mph Avg Speed:
13.5 mph This was another
great day of biking. The weather was in our favor. But the one thing
that wasn't in our favor were the awful OH roads! It was bump, bump, bump
all along them and we even had a bridge that was out. We biked through
Funk, OH which is an Amish community. They must not pay their taxes as the
roads were unbelievably poor. I need to write down some notes because I am
at a loss as to what we did that day. Just another long day of biking!
JudyP-M
Day 39, Tuesday, June 20th, Wooster, OH to Niles, OH: Tour Route:
92.0 miles but I biked 100.01 miles. This was my 3rd day of biking
a century! Time: 7:39.40 Avg Speed:
13.0 mph Max Speed: 35.5 mph This is the day
that Bryan Baker met me on the tour. He is from OH and he was on the
2003XC cycling tour that I had biked previously w/Mack McNicholas and others.
Bryan is well known as the one who proposed to his fiance Anne Molitano on
Revere Beach. It was undoubtedly the most romantic ending to our tour.
We all were happy and crying at the same time. Joanne Baker, Bryan's
sister-in-law also met us for lunch. I met her when I went to
Bryan and Ann's wedding. She looked so great! She has such a
beautiful smile. It was really great to have friends meet me along the
way. Bryan took me on a
bike trail that wasn't part of the tour. It was gorgeous and so peaceful
and for the first time the path was smooth and sealed! I was so glad to
get off the OH roads. Maybe they might incorporate this bike trail as part
of the tour next year. Then Anne & Bryan met us for dinner with
Ricky Wardell, Jeff Bott, Mack McNicholas and myself. We had a grand time
and I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. After dinner Bryan brought
his wedding pictures so that Mack and I could see them. What a gorgeous
wedding. Bryan is witty and creative! He's even giving me a $5.00
bonus for every century that I ride on tour. For me this was an incredibly
fun day and I was pleased to have ridden over 300 miles in 3 days. JudyP-M
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Copyright © 2006 by The Hollis D. Marshall Memorial Scholarship Fund. All rights reserved. For site information, contact Judy Paine-Marshall Last revised: Monday, November 03, 2008 . Website design Patricia Coogan, Words and Pictures, The Woodlands TX. Home
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