Wednesday, July 31, 2013
July 31, Stage 25
July 31, Hudsonville,MI to Coldwater, MI, 2500 miles, 2500 ft climbing. Temps in the low 60s. A new dimension to the ride--rain. All day,mostly constant,sometimes heavy. Finished the day at 4:00, totally soaked. Not much else to the say about today. Steve, another psychologist, offered for me to draft him in the last 26 miles. Challenging to ride at his varying pace and avoid all the potholes in the road. Saved me a little, though. Actually,not easy to see through goggles in the rain. The Super 8 does not have a computer I can use, so I am pecking this out on my smartphone,while eating a Hungry Howie's pizza and salad,rather than walk a half mile or so in the rain to a fast food joint. Options in Coldwater are rather limited when one does not want to bike again in the rain. Did get another neck massage.p On to Ohio tomorrow.
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I hope you've seen the last day of rain! As Roseanne Roseanna Dana used to say, "It's always somethin'." Let's also hope you're feeling that "home stretch" karma helping you along in this last week (almost). Team Chaos is hoping that when you return you'll still find the gumption to get out and ride with us...maybe after a little hiatus? Nah!
ReplyDeleteThis note appears to filled with hope, Ellery. As Andy Dufresne says in 'Shawshank Redemption,' "Remember, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."
And look out for stray buckeyes on the road!
I was wondering if you were going to make it through the ride without getting rained on. It's been a while since I rode in the rain, but I remember some rough, much shorter, rides in Washington through the rain. Dodging potholes in the rain I'm sure made for some white knuckles. Hopefully, the rain will hold off the rest of the way or at least tomorrow.
ReplyDeletePhil Ochs had a good childhood in Ohio, which included riding a bike. I think you might need something stronger than the 3.2 beer he sings about. Have a great ride tomorrow. Love, Ben
Phil Ochs- "Boy in Ohio"
Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqnEqExyFkA
Lyrics:
Creek was running by the road
And the Buckeye sun was a-shinin'
I rode my bike down Alum Creek Drive
When I was a boy in Ohio
The English teacher he didn't care
He challenged us to checkers
And once in a while we'd swap a joke
When I was a boy in Ohio
Once I was caught playing hooky from school
They found me home in the evening
I confessed I had been to the movie show
When I was a boy in Ohio
We would wait for the summer to come
For swimmin' and pickin' berries
But now a freeway covers the field
Where I used to be so happy
I remember the Burger Boy
Where the girls would shine like the engines
And the radio was always loud
When I was a boy in Ohio
Spanish teacher she tried to help
She was much too pretty
So I just stared at the back of her legs
When I was a boy in Ohio
It was 3.2 beer at the honky tonk bar
Where they said the girls were easy
But somehow I never found me one
When I was a boy in Ohio
Soon I was grown and I had to leave
And I've been all over the country
But I don't believe I've had more fun
Than when I was a boy in Ohio
Welcome to my home state, Ellery! And my neck of the woods, sort of...northwest Ohio should be some beautiful flat farmland. Hope it looks that way to you from the bike.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking this Leonard Bernstein song about Ohio might be humming through your brain as you head into West Virginia on Saturday.
WHY, OH WHY, OH WHY, OH --
WHY DID I EVER LEAVE OHIO?
WHY DID I WANDER TO FIND WHAT LIES YONDER
WHEN LIFE WAS SO COZY AT HOME?
WOND’RING WHILE I WANDER,
WHY DID I FLY?
WHY DID I ROAM?
OH, WHY OH, WHY OH
DID I LEAVE OHIO?
MAYBE I’D BETTER GO
O -- H -- I -- O
MAYBE I’D BETTER GO HOME.
Not that the song ever seriously crossed MY mind.
Hoping your days in Ohio are good ones. Bye-bye Midwest.
El, it sounds like the biking gods have been giving you good weather. Let's hope you only have the one day of rain to ride in. Your description of riding in the Grand Rapids area brought back memories of the two years we lived there. Beautiful scenery. The city groomed the public golf courses so you could cross country ski in beautiful areas. That is where we learned to ski.
ReplyDeleteYour article and picture were in the Wayne County Press. We are all proud of you....especially Mom. She shows everyone the article and picture. Hang in there; we send all our love!
Ray