A whole lot of shaking going on

Today's ride was 97 miles. The temperature at the start was quite pleasant in the low 60s. One rider said he was tempted to go back to the start and get his jacket. We rode in the shade of the bluffs and trees for most of the first 14 miles to Nauvoo, IL. Nauvoo was the site where Joseph Smith led his original followers of the Latter Day Saints religion (Mormons). The historic Nauvoo contains many nice buildings. Fred said that they date to the 1830s and 1840s when Smith and his followers lived in Nauvoo. Smith is buried in Nauvoo having been martyred for his beliefs. A modern Mormon temple was constructed from 1999 to 2002 and stands on the site of the original temple. The original temple was destroyed by fire in the 1840s.

After leaving Nauvoo, we were in open territory for the remainder of the day. It was corn field after corn field. Corn is definitely king in Illinois. Nothing else was planted as far as I could tell. The soil is a dark black, much unlike the reddish clay soil of home.

The day became gradually warmer and we pressed on to the hotel arriving just before 2. At approximately 10 miles from the hotel, we made a turn onto a recently roto-milled road. This is a road that has been stripped of most of its asphalt surface in preparation for resurfacing. As all drivers know, such a road is quite bumpy. Imagine a force on the bicycle and its rider that is many-fold the discomfort. You are holding on for dear life and hope that you are not dislodged from the trusty bike into the path of a car. Most of the cars gave us a wide berth, although one came quite unnecessarily close. We were on this surface for approximately 4 miles. I could not read my bike computer as everything was jostled. We had to look far down the road to avoid a hypnotic state of looking at the grooves on the road immediately in front of the bike. Looking at the immediate road was very disconcerting. At one point I entered a large parking lot and entered back onto the roadway some 100 meters further saving some shaking.

We are spending the night perhaps as from the Mississippi River as will happen on the ride.

Day's stats: 96.8 miles, 15.5 mph, 2520 feet climbing.

Highlight of the day: A cool morning start and a fine sandwich and lemonade at the end of the ride.