TenLinks Bike Across America
Daily Log

Day 21 - Near Perfection

If ever there was a day that would make you wish you could call in sick and just go out and ride your bike, today was it. Sunny skies and cool temperatures prevailed again. I better enjoy it while I can because just as every down hill has its uphill, I'm sure this pleasant weather will not go unanswered. In fact, the forecast calls for thunderstorms day after tomorrow.

I took it easy today. Yesterday, I had gone for broke and over exerted myself. Today my legs didn't feel that strong. A highway overpass felt like a 200 ft hill. Luckily, real hills are not found in this part of the US so I hope I was able to recover a bit.

While I'm still going through mostly farm country, the character of the farming has changed. Gone are the unending wheat farms. Illinois has more smaller farms with a bigger variety of crops. Several farms were devoted to corn which was still only knee high. This was a lucky break as some of the intersections had no stop signs. I imagine when the corn gets high, you couldn't see traffic that was approaching the intersection on the cross roads.

Close up, grain silo, outside Champaign, IL

Although we are in one of the nation's largest college towns, I see no hint of it from the motel. As tired as I am, I dare not venture out. Perhaps I'll see more of the town as I ride out tomorrow morning.

The rest of the evening will be filled with the following:

• Shower

• Wash and hang today's cycling clothes

• Bike washing

• Bike adjustments: Seat angle, left shifter adjustment, rear derailleur

• Oil chain

• Dinner at Chinese buffet 2 blocks down

• Download photos from digital camera

• Web site update

• Check email

• Get weather forecast

• Fix 2 flat inner tubes

• Write postcards

• Bed at 9PM

For more information, please contact:

Roopinder Tara, CEO/President, TenLinks, Inc., Novato, CA 94947, USA

(415) 897-8800 x 221

rtara@tenlinks.com

www.tenlinks.com/bikeacrossamerica