Saturday, September 09, 2006
My Cycling Odyssey
TELL ME, O MUSE, of that ingenious hero who travelled far and wide
after he had sacked the famous town of Troy. Many cities did he visit,
and many were the nations with whose manners and customs....
D'oh! Wrong Homer and the wrong Odyssey.
The following entries are a slightly belated log of my bicycle trip across Illinois.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
8.28.06: Home to Carbondale
Distance: 44.63 miles
Ride Time: 3:27:30
Average Speed: 13.26 mph
Maximum Speed: 22.4 mph
Total trip distance: 44.63 miles
Winds: NNE
What I learned today: Cell phones don't like to get wet.
It was a very windy and rainy. We rode from home to Kankakee to catch the Amtrak Illini to Carbondale. It poured for the first 20 miles and we were just wet and cold for the second 20 miles. But at least we had a tail wind. We ducked into a McDonald's in Manteno during a rain squall and the kind folk there offered us free coffee.
I have to admit, we met some interesting people on the train. We got a tutorial on various corn crops, and learned a little too much (at least in my opinion) about strip bars.
We arrived in Carbondale about 9:30 at night. Hot shower, no cold beer.
Ride Time: 3:27:30
Average Speed: 13.26 mph
Maximum Speed: 22.4 mph
Total trip distance: 44.63 miles
Winds: NNE
What I learned today: Cell phones don't like to get wet.
It was a very windy and rainy. We rode from home to Kankakee to catch the Amtrak Illini to Carbondale. It poured for the first 20 miles and we were just wet and cold for the second 20 miles. But at least we had a tail wind. We ducked into a McDonald's in Manteno during a rain squall and the kind folk there offered us free coffee.
I have to admit, we met some interesting people on the train. We got a tutorial on various corn crops, and learned a little too much (at least in my opinion) about strip bars.
We arrived in Carbondale about 9:30 at night. Hot shower, no cold beer.
8.29.06: Carbondale to Mount Vernon
Distance: 78.16 miles
Ride Time: 6:13:25
Average Speed: 12.85 mph
Maximum Speed: 27.5 mph
Total trip distance: 122.79
Winds: NNE
What I learned today: There are a lot of butterflies in southern Illinois
Today was our first full day of riding. We rode through the rolling countryside north out of Carbondale. We had lunch at a Subway in West City. It was weird, though, after we sat down with our food, it appeared as if the entire high school showed up for lunch. Has Subway (sub) contracted out? Or is the food in the school cafeteria that repulsive?
After lunch we explored Rend Lake which is an Army Corps of Engineers dam project. There was a nice bike trail and good scenery to view.
Next, we headed toward Mount Vernon. We stopped at the bike shop there and hung out for awhile. Bike shops are always nice places to hang out, unfortunately they we out of beer. Then we were off to the hotel. Hot shower and a cold beer. Oh, and some dinner, too.
Ride Time: 6:13:25
Average Speed: 12.85 mph
Maximum Speed: 27.5 mph
Total trip distance: 122.79
Winds: NNE
What I learned today: There are a lot of butterflies in southern Illinois
Today was our first full day of riding. We rode through the rolling countryside north out of Carbondale. We had lunch at a Subway in West City. It was weird, though, after we sat down with our food, it appeared as if the entire high school showed up for lunch. Has Subway (sub) contracted out? Or is the food in the school cafeteria that repulsive?
After lunch we explored Rend Lake which is an Army Corps of Engineers dam project. There was a nice bike trail and good scenery to view.
Next, we headed toward Mount Vernon. We stopped at the bike shop there and hung out for awhile. Bike shops are always nice places to hang out, unfortunately they we out of beer. Then we were off to the hotel. Hot shower and a cold beer. Oh, and some dinner, too.
8.30.06 Mount Vernon to Greenville
Distance: 70.94 miles
Ride Time: 5:41:23
Average Speed: 12.72 mph
Maximum Speed: 25.2 mph
Total trip distance: 193.75
Winds: NNE (notice a pattern here?)
What I learned today: How to true up a wheel
It started out as a fairly uneventful ride. About an hour or so into the ride, we arrived in Walnuthill. There wasn't a water tower in town, but we thought there would at least be a gas station. Well, there was a Post Office. But they don't have public washrooms. Just as we arrived, a pickup truck drove by and we asked whether there was a gas station in the area. Well there wasn't, but the man driving the pickup truck offered the bathroom at his trailer. Well, I took him up on his offer (I figured my friends would save me if I didn't re-appear within a reasonble period of time). Well, the man was very polite and went out to talk to my friends after he showed me where the bathroom was. There was a stack of Playboy magazines in the bathroom, so it dawned on me that I was probably the first female in his trailer in years. I probably made his day!
We lunched at a local diner in the quaint little hamlet of Carlyle. We had the opportunity for an all you can eat rib tip lunch. We chose to order breakfast.
Greenville is a dry town. So hot shower, but no cold beer. Dinner at Bubba's, er LuBob's defies description. But, they were selling barns in the parking lot.
Also, apparently they vend live bait downstate as well.
Ride Time: 5:41:23
Average Speed: 12.72 mph
Maximum Speed: 25.2 mph
Total trip distance: 193.75
Winds: NNE (notice a pattern here?)
What I learned today: How to true up a wheel
It started out as a fairly uneventful ride. About an hour or so into the ride, we arrived in Walnuthill. There wasn't a water tower in town, but we thought there would at least be a gas station. Well, there was a Post Office. But they don't have public washrooms. Just as we arrived, a pickup truck drove by and we asked whether there was a gas station in the area. Well there wasn't, but the man driving the pickup truck offered the bathroom at his trailer. Well, I took him up on his offer (I figured my friends would save me if I didn't re-appear within a reasonble period of time). Well, the man was very polite and went out to talk to my friends after he showed me where the bathroom was. There was a stack of Playboy magazines in the bathroom, so it dawned on me that I was probably the first female in his trailer in years. I probably made his day!
We lunched at a local diner in the quaint little hamlet of Carlyle. We had the opportunity for an all you can eat rib tip lunch. We chose to order breakfast.
Greenville is a dry town. So hot shower, but no cold beer. Dinner at Bubba's, er LuBob's defies description. But, they were selling barns in the parking lot.
Also, apparently they vend live bait downstate as well.
8.31.06: Greenville to Springfield
Distance: 84.58 miles
Ride Time: 6:52:10
Average Speed: 12.52 mph
Maximum Speed: 32.2
Total trip distance: 278.34
Winds: N (OK Ernesto, you proved your point)
What I learned today: I HATE head winds
Today was a grind. Head winds most of the day and no place to hide. We had a morning break at Irving. Apparently Paul sells exotic junk in Irving.
We lunched in Morrisonville. On the map, it looked like a slightly larger town (it should have at least a gas station) and we figured there should be a restaurant or two. Riding into town on the blacktop (the term for the finished non-chip 'n tar roads) we came across a diner. We stopped and looked at the menu in the window and were deciding whether to try it when a farmer came out. He recommended the diner, probably as much for the food as well as the fact that there were no other places to eat in town. In further conversation with this particular gentleman, we learned that he farms about 1000 acres. He is also the road commissioner of Christian County. This is a million miles from the bureaucracy that is The Department of Streets and Sanitation in Chicago. And he was right, it was a good place to eat.
After riding for miles and miles into the wind, we finally arrived in Springfield. We stopped and visited the Lincoln house. I had never been to Springfield before and this was my first, and on this trip, the only chance to visit the house. It was only 20 minutes and very informative, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't all hot and sweaty from an 85 mile ride.
Springfield is not a dry town. Hot shower, cold beer and a really good dinner.
Ride Time: 6:52:10
Average Speed: 12.52 mph
Maximum Speed: 32.2
Total trip distance: 278.34
Winds: N (OK Ernesto, you proved your point)
What I learned today: I HATE head winds
Today was a grind. Head winds most of the day and no place to hide. We had a morning break at Irving. Apparently Paul sells exotic junk in Irving.
We lunched in Morrisonville. On the map, it looked like a slightly larger town (it should have at least a gas station) and we figured there should be a restaurant or two. Riding into town on the blacktop (the term for the finished non-chip 'n tar roads) we came across a diner. We stopped and looked at the menu in the window and were deciding whether to try it when a farmer came out. He recommended the diner, probably as much for the food as well as the fact that there were no other places to eat in town. In further conversation with this particular gentleman, we learned that he farms about 1000 acres. He is also the road commissioner of Christian County. This is a million miles from the bureaucracy that is The Department of Streets and Sanitation in Chicago. And he was right, it was a good place to eat.
After riding for miles and miles into the wind, we finally arrived in Springfield. We stopped and visited the Lincoln house. I had never been to Springfield before and this was my first, and on this trip, the only chance to visit the house. It was only 20 minutes and very informative, but I think I would have enjoyed it more if I wasn't all hot and sweaty from an 85 mile ride.
Springfield is not a dry town. Hot shower, cold beer and a really good dinner.
9.1.06: Springfield to Lincoln
Distance: 49.12 miles
Ride Time: 4:15:51
Average Speed: 11.86 mph
Maximum Speed: 26.4 mph
Total trip distance: 327.48 miles
Winds: NNE (ENOUGH ALREADY!!!)
What I learned today: "Rest days" are even hard
We spent the morning exploring the Lincoln museum in Springfield. It is well worth the visit. But because the winds were strong, we only spent a couple of hours there so we could give ourselves time to get to Lincoln. I did search for the statue of Jebediah, but couldn't find it. D'oh! wrong Springfield.
Sometimes I am amused at the most bizarre things. Check out the top of this 5 story parking garage with the 7 story staircase.
After departing Springfield, we met up with some additional friends on the way to Lincoln. At least we had some fresh legs to draft off of. Even 49 miles was tiring. But I managed to stay awake until 8:30 tonight, which is about an hour later than past nights. Two more friends are supposed to be on the evening train, I guess I'll see them in the morning.
Ride Time: 4:15:51
Average Speed: 11.86 mph
Maximum Speed: 26.4 mph
Total trip distance: 327.48 miles
Winds: NNE (ENOUGH ALREADY!!!)
What I learned today: "Rest days" are even hard
We spent the morning exploring the Lincoln museum in Springfield. It is well worth the visit. But because the winds were strong, we only spent a couple of hours there so we could give ourselves time to get to Lincoln. I did search for the statue of Jebediah, but couldn't find it. D'oh! wrong Springfield.
Sometimes I am amused at the most bizarre things. Check out the top of this 5 story parking garage with the 7 story staircase.
After departing Springfield, we met up with some additional friends on the way to Lincoln. At least we had some fresh legs to draft off of. Even 49 miles was tiring. But I managed to stay awake until 8:30 tonight, which is about an hour later than past nights. Two more friends are supposed to be on the evening train, I guess I'll see them in the morning.
9.2.06: Lincoln to El Paso
Distance: 70.22
Ride Time: 5:36:44
Average Speed: 12.80 mph
Maximum Speed: 24.8 mph
Total Trip Distance: 397.76 miles
Wind: ENE
What I learned today: I miss my Tempur-pedic mattress
Getting our kicks our Route 66. Our route to El Paso snaked around the old Route 66. Today was a sunny day. Still had those d@#$ headwinds, but there were 7 of us riding together (more riders to draft). Here in Atlanta we give new meaning to the term "biker gang".
I wonder if Mr. Sherman bought any of his curiosities at Paul's Exotic Junk store (see 8/31 Greenville to Springfield). I was disappointed that the store was not open, I pondered what was inside.......
It was an otherwise uneventful ride. Lots of corn desert. There were some picturesque small towns. We lunched in either Bloomington or Normal (can't quite tell where one ends and the other begins.) For a little variety, we rode through Bloomington/Normal on a bike trail. It was a paved trail, which was a nice change of pace from the predominant chip 'n tar country roads that we had been riding.
Finally, we rode on to El Paso. Cold beer(s) and a hot shower.
Ride Time: 5:36:44
Average Speed: 12.80 mph
Maximum Speed: 24.8 mph
Total Trip Distance: 397.76 miles
Wind: ENE
What I learned today: I miss my Tempur-pedic mattress
Getting our kicks our Route 66. Our route to El Paso snaked around the old Route 66. Today was a sunny day. Still had those d@#$ headwinds, but there were 7 of us riding together (more riders to draft). Here in Atlanta we give new meaning to the term "biker gang".
I wonder if Mr. Sherman bought any of his curiosities at Paul's Exotic Junk store (see 8/31 Greenville to Springfield). I was disappointed that the store was not open, I pondered what was inside.......
It was an otherwise uneventful ride. Lots of corn desert. There were some picturesque small towns. We lunched in either Bloomington or Normal (can't quite tell where one ends and the other begins.) For a little variety, we rode through Bloomington/Normal on a bike trail. It was a paved trail, which was a nice change of pace from the predominant chip 'n tar country roads that we had been riding.
Finally, we rode on to El Paso. Cold beer(s) and a hot shower.
9.3.06: El Paso to Morris
Distance: 78.10
Ride Time: 5:25:13
Average Speed: 14.74 (amazing what a tail wind can do!)
Maximum Speed: 29.0
Total Trip Distance: 475.87 miles
Wind: SSE
What I learned today: There are a lot of different varieties of wooly bears.
Today was sunny with SSE winds and we enjoyed the first tail winds of the week. We started out from El Paso, the birthplace of Bishop Fulton Sheen.
It was really easy riding for a change. We rode (quickly) to Streator, then into the Illinois River valley to the scenic town of Seneca and had lunch. Out of Seneca we rode NE along the Illinois River and the I&M Canal towards our last overnight stop - Morris. Here you can see the beautiful lush countryside along the valley.
We stayed at the Super 8 in Morris. And they had the nicest lobby for a biker gang to hang out and drink beer.
We only have about 50 miles tomorrow, it will be nice to get home.
Ride Time: 5:25:13
Average Speed: 14.74 (amazing what a tail wind can do!)
Maximum Speed: 29.0
Total Trip Distance: 475.87 miles
Wind: SSE
What I learned today: There are a lot of different varieties of wooly bears.
Today was sunny with SSE winds and we enjoyed the first tail winds of the week. We started out from El Paso, the birthplace of Bishop Fulton Sheen.
It was really easy riding for a change. We rode (quickly) to Streator, then into the Illinois River valley to the scenic town of Seneca and had lunch. Out of Seneca we rode NE along the Illinois River and the I&M Canal towards our last overnight stop - Morris. Here you can see the beautiful lush countryside along the valley.
We stayed at the Super 8 in Morris. And they had the nicest lobby for a biker gang to hang out and drink beer.
We only have about 50 miles tomorrow, it will be nice to get home.
9.4.06: Morris to home
Distance: 49.71 miles
Ride Time: 4:02:26
Average Speed: 12.57 mph (more head winds!)
Maximum Speed: 23.7 mph
Total Trip Distance: 525.61 miles
What I learned today: I really, really, really miss my Tempur-pedic mattress.
It was drizzling this morning. Radar looked like it would clear up if we waited. So we went for a nice big breakfast and by the time we left, it was still drizzling, but it stopped within the first 10 miles. We met up with Bill Lang in Channahon. Bill thought up and did the initial planning for the trip, but unfortunately was not well enough to ride with us. So it was nice to meet up for a few minutes for the following photo-op.
We continued on to Joliet, Frankfort and home.
This is the only picture of the entire group taken during the trip:
Some final thoughts:
This was my first extended bike trip. It will not be my last. All in all, it was a good experience. I wish we could have had more tail winds, but I learned something about myself grinding out those head winds for 5 straight days. Other than my wheel issue the second day of riding and one other minor issue by one other rider, there were no breakdowns or flat tires. I thought that was pretty impressive considering the quality of some of the roads.
This ride took me into new mileage territory. First, I surpassed my total annual mileage. Which obviously will continue to be new territory for the rest of the year. Second, I surpassed (actually annihilated) my weekly total. Before this week, my highest weekly total was around 220 miles, this week it was over 550 miles.
Ride Time: 4:02:26
Average Speed: 12.57 mph (more head winds!)
Maximum Speed: 23.7 mph
Total Trip Distance: 525.61 miles
What I learned today: I really, really, really miss my Tempur-pedic mattress.
It was drizzling this morning. Radar looked like it would clear up if we waited. So we went for a nice big breakfast and by the time we left, it was still drizzling, but it stopped within the first 10 miles. We met up with Bill Lang in Channahon. Bill thought up and did the initial planning for the trip, but unfortunately was not well enough to ride with us. So it was nice to meet up for a few minutes for the following photo-op.
We continued on to Joliet, Frankfort and home.
This is the only picture of the entire group taken during the trip:
Some final thoughts:
This was my first extended bike trip. It will not be my last. All in all, it was a good experience. I wish we could have had more tail winds, but I learned something about myself grinding out those head winds for 5 straight days. Other than my wheel issue the second day of riding and one other minor issue by one other rider, there were no breakdowns or flat tires. I thought that was pretty impressive considering the quality of some of the roads.
This ride took me into new mileage territory. First, I surpassed my total annual mileage. Which obviously will continue to be new territory for the rest of the year. Second, I surpassed (actually annihilated) my weekly total. Before this week, my highest weekly total was around 220 miles, this week it was over 550 miles.
