On Thursday the blogging thing had to go real fast, since we had to cycle 2 miles down to the public library with our laptops slung over the shoulder in order to get internet, be back for a lovely dinner of meatballs and veggies at 6pm, then rush againto town for an hour and make it back for peloton! Lugging things around on our bikes is a necessary evil, as one has to be really careful to avoid said matter getting into the spokes! Manley Baarda became the latest victim when his laundry bag got caught into the spokes, causing him to be catapulted over the handlebars, landing on his face, resulting in 14 stitches and horrible bruising! Praying that it'll heal fast and that it won't leave scars. Like his dad, Dan, who's joining us in Niagara, Manley is the nicest person, always easy going and ready to help anyone that may need it.
Many of us were quite tired last night, including me, as I was on sweep and coming in after being out so long makes me much more tired than riding hard and fast and getting there sooner. It was enjoyable riding with Jim though, as we had lengthy discussions about aspects of faith and how people deal with addictions and mental health, as this is the field he works in. Our satellite internet system's rotator broke down and is scheduled to be fixed Friday night, we hope.
Friday morning was a slower start for me as I felt tired in the quads because of the fast riding yesterday. Since I missed part of peloton returning from the library, I was under the impression that we were to ride a 100km today, and not 100 miles. So when we came to Walter's stop at 80km, I was amazed to find we are only halfway! So I pulled myself together and got into a brisker pace. Soon up with Dale en route and finished together, having some good laughs as he has an incurable sense of humor. dale told me he joined the tour only a week before the time and only had 3 days to get used to his bike before flying out to Seattle....!!?!
Bradley Geerlinks came whizzing by us, drafting a heavily loaded transport truck at 97km/h!!! Just prayed "Lord have mercy and protect our precious overly fit young friend from himself!". He did..... as He did several times to John Vanderveen who has the same dangerous attraction to trucks....sort of like a moth to a candle!
We took the steep fast descending business loop into McGregor, a sleepy little village from 1837 nestled on the banks of the Missisippi. Lovely old preserved buildings. Saw a bald eagle near the river. Went over the huge bridge over the "Mighty Muddy" into another village Prairie du Chien, where the border into Wisconsin is. Delightful Kodak moments happened mock wrestling an alligator and riding a big Sturgeon fish like a bronco....Hee-ha! Visited the local bike shop en route, before attempting the big climb out of the Mississippi basin. At New Hampton we found that the library closed already at 4 and no internet therefore where we camped on the edge of town. Dear Cory, one of our sag wagon drivers patiently shuttled dozens of us to the local pool where we showered and had a free swim....divine!
The landscape changed and became much more treed, but still very hilly. We did 3600 feet of climbing today and my quads were somewhat sore. Tonight I cleaned my bike chain and while having the dirty equipment out for the oily job, also cleaned Jim and Dales' bike chains. Sunday will be Claire's and Gayles' turn. During the night it started to rain heavily and later I felt water trickling in at a downhill spot in the tent. It was a soothing sound ... the water pattering on the tent, but still kept me awake. I heard dear La Vonne getting going in the kitchen truck at 5am, rain or no rain, all wrapped up in a blue caped rain poncho like little "Blue Ridin' Hood". Saturday mornings we get our favorite bacon and pancake breakfast...mmmm! I waited for the rain to clear up a bit and got up at 7am, tents were dripping wet. Enjoyed leisurely breakfast and got going at 8:15am, on a shiny clean bike on which I spent an hour the previous evening, as Brad the wheel guy from Bontrager would be inspecting our wheels in Madison. No use, because more rain on the road and the long unpaved hardpack dirt bike path that followed did an awesome job of undoing my hard labour!! Dale had left early, but got lost and we happened to meet again on the bike path. In Mt Horeb, cute town, we got treated to free coffee at a real nice coffee shop. Needless to say....it swarmed of cyclists! Later we came upon an awesome spectacle....the 130 feet long windmill propellor blades being transported on enormous trucks from the factory in Grand Forks, North Dakota. A fleet of 6 blades were at a truck stop, laying on the flatbed trailers like massive eels, delicately sculptured to catch the wind most effectively once installed.
Made of a carbon fibre - aluminum mixture. Lots more climbing followed, till we reached a park a mile from camp where we were all to assemble for a unified parade entry to Madison for a photo shoot. We looked striking in our yellow and blue jerseys. Kobie was waiting for me at the park and it was a joyous reunion for us after 6 weeks apart! At the Crossroads Community CRC churchin Madison we had a royal reception complete with a brass band playing! Saturday protocol was followed re cleaning gear truck & the mozzies started eating us as soon as dusk approached. We met a great ex- South African couple here that's been in this church for 10 years and they invited us to come sleep at their house. Divine to sleep between sheets the first time in 6 weeks!
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