Day 34: Quincy, IL to Springfield, IL

Day 34: 06 July 2007

Quincy, IL (488 ft) to Springfield, IL (610 ft). 
106 Miles.

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Day’s Theme:
Go east, go fast! 

Weather/Terrain:
Like yesterday, another glorious day for bicycle riding, although I guess some of the fast kids caught some rain in Springfield when they arrived!!  Low 90s, morning humidity fading to a nice, hot, but doable day.  The first 40 miles were fast and fun, with good roads and no traffic.  The scenery was still largely immense corn fields, with some soy.  The capital city of Springfield was sizeable, and was all about President Lincoln.

How I’m/we’re feeling:
Seriously, any better and I would need to pee in a cup.  It’s not right.  This is good.
Not sure what is “normal” for me – I think, I am, becoming “Bike Boy”…………
Others, however, are not so well.  One rider was “zapped” and needed to ride along today, another couldn’t finish the day with “stomach stuff”.  Robert, my roommate is sick as a dog (fluish), so, I have refrained from kissing him good night for the last two nights…………..

Notable Events:
Seeing Lincoln’s Home in Downtown Springfield and the lovely National Park around it.  

Rider Profile: Tom Patterson, 58, from San Luis Obisbo, CA.



Tom was born and still lives in San Luis Obisbo, CA with his wife and best friend Paula.  Tom, like his buddy Mike I profiled yesterday, enjoys mountain biking and has done some touring with that, and was inspired to do this trip by one of his friends.
Tom recently sold his business after 29 years and is transitioning out of that, and is thinking about “what’s next”.    Tom and Paula hiked 1100 miles across Africa in 2000, and Tom has also climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro, Reiner, and Whitney.  
Tom is enjoying his trip, and with all we have seen, also feels he is “real happy” about where he lives – good weather, nice town, etc…,.
Tom says:
“Behold the turtle – for he only makes progress when he sticks his neck out.”

Pictures:
What’s Happening:



Our morning ride was glorious.  It was a bit muggy, but all riders seemed to cruise the first 40 miles to the town of Chambersburg for our first SAG.
The roads were hard and fast, with little to no traffic, and peaceful quiet and the singing of birds.
 
 




Just before the first SAG, our two tour leaders Andy and Michelle were cruising down this lovely road.






The roads and high mileage kept my camera in the case for a bit today, and we were at mile 80 before I knew it! 
We continued on relatively nice and quiet county roads past immense farms and huge fields of corn. 
AbB Staffer Gerard is up ahead waiting for me and The Rocket to get our sh&% together…..
 





Many farms, many nice peaceful farm houses.
We go many miles without seeing stores and coffee spots.  Te Rocket and I  are always tempted to stop and see if a friendly farmhouse will make us a “venti mocha triple latte”!! 
 
 
 



Well, I knew I went further than around the block on this trip, but I was NOT aware that I went one quarter of the way around the world!
Amazing – a little sugar, some Gatoraid, and the world just gets smaller!!  J






These corn fields are immense. 
They are very cool.
 
 




The capital town of Springfield was nice – this is the corner of Monroe and Spring Street.
Nice shops, outside tables.  Cute.
 




Springfield, IL, is all about President Abraham Lincoln.
Now I don’t know the whole story, so, do your own research, but apparently at some point he lived in this house.  This whole area here is now a lovely National Park and there were quite a few folk here today.

 




This is Abe’s neighborhood.






The Springfield Train Station. 
Apparently Abe boarded trains here.
I wonder if he was a bike rider?