TRIRI - 1988

(The Ride in Rural Indiana

In 1988 I did the TRIRI bicycle tour for the second year in a row. The route was different this year, starting and ending in Bloomington again, but this time going through Southeast Indiana rather than Southwest.

Sunday, June 19

We arrive at the high school about 7:30, and are sent to Bryan Park. We go there, and not much is going on. It doesn't seem like quite as many people as last year, but there are supposedly a few more. Finally, we have our pep talk, take pictures, and prepare to go. I kiss Carla goodbye, and feel sad knowing I will miss her. Both kids say goodbye to me too. I start riding. At the exit I turn and wave as Carla takes a last picture. I'm not nervous in the same way I was last year, wondering if I could do this, and if I would like it, but I am nervous nevertheless. Most of the people are strangers, and don't seem very friendly. It's 8:00 as I pull out of the lot.

After a couple of miles, Tom Mayer, the Bloomington Auditor, pulls along side and starts talking to me. We talk mainly about work. At about 7 miles he pulls ahead of me, and gradually pulls away. In another mile or two, I'm virtually riding alone, although I sometimes see someone up ahead or in my mirror. Soon I cross the causeway that goes across Lake Monroe. There are lots of boats - houseboats, sailboats, and speedboats, out in the water. As I just get across the lake I see a blue Ford van just like ours setting alongside the road. For an instant I think it's Carla come to intercept me. I realize that's ridiculous, then see the van isn't in as good a shape as ours. Soon I see what is almost surely a dead fox along side the road. Later, I pass a dead skunk about 10 feet off the road, the smell still strong.

At 9:45, about 15 miles, I stop at a lakeside general store, "The Boondocks". A few riders are there, and I say "Hi". I go in and get a bottle of apple juice. I try to pay, but the only living thing in the store is a big, black, friendly Doberman. I go outside and figure the proprietor will show up eventually (he does, he was working on a lawn mower). At 10:10, about 21 miles, I take a short side road off the route to take a leak. There's an old one lane metal bridge I take a picture of, and rest a few minutes, as it's nice and shady. Soon I'm going through the small town of Norman. I see a church with cars in the lot, and (like last year), suddenly realize it's Sunday. I wonder if Carla's home yet. I see two elderly ladies walking down the sidewalk. I say "Hi". They seem surprised I have spoken, but respond. Out of Norman is a long, shady, downhill glide. I really enjoy coasting along, the wind cooling me off. I look at the speedometer, and see 35 mph. After a few more miles, the heat and miles are starting to get to me. I finally find a good rest stop, a cemetery, so I rest awhile, eat an apple, drink, and leave. I've noticed lots of horses all morning. Why is it horse manure is almost pleasant, and cow and pig manure smells so bad?

Then I pass over a small bridge over a creek. I see a woman standing under the bridge. I can just see her head and shoulders. She's wearing a tube top, bathing suit, or nothing (I can't tell).She's tossing rocks up against the bridge wall under the bridge. I see what must be her car about a quarter mile ahead. I can't imagine what she's doing (covering the body of her husband, who she has just killed?)

I arrive in Freetown at 12:00. Several riders are gathered at a small grocery, so I stop. The lady in back of the meat counter is making sandwiches. I get a pimento cheese spread sandwich (it's very good), 2 bottles of orange juice, and a banana for later. After that I have a dip of Rocky Road ice cream (I shouldn't have), then I fill my water bottle, which was almost empty. I've come about 41 miles.

At 1:00 I'm on a long, hot, county road with no shade. I'm feeling tired, and my neck muscles are starting to hurt. Finally I come to a building, Jackson County Water Company, with some shade. I stop, drink, and rest. The couple from Evansville (we've passed each other several times today) pass me again. I've come about 49 miles. Next is Brownstown, by far the biggest city we've come through. I'm figuring on a good stop, but the Quick Stop I stop at has no juice. I settle for orange drink, with lots of sugar, just to get something cold. It's only 8 miles to the campground now, but I'm really feeling hot and tired. I try to plug away and drink as I ride. At 2:05 I arrive at Starve Hollow State Recreation Area. Today I rode 60.9 miles, 4 hours 38 minutes riding time, 5 hours 45 minutes total time.

I ride on to the campground, and it's great! Far better than any we had last year. It's the "regular" camping area, lots of trees and shade, and enough room so we don't have to crowd. I get my bag and start putting up my tent next to the two men we saw and spoke with at McDonalds this morning. They are Jack and Brian, father and son,. After setting up, I walk down to the rest rooms, put on my bathing suit, and wash out everything I wore today. I have high hopes they will dry out before night. Then I get clean clothes, soap and towel, and ride over to the beach. It's very similar to Shakamak, but bigger. First I have some nachos and cheese and a diet Pepsi, then go in the water. It feels great. I don't figure to stay for long, but a guy from Huron, IL, Tom, who is part of our group, starts talking to me, and we talk a long while. He does triathalons, but is doing the bike trip for fun as well as conditioning. He's never done a bike tour before, so he's asking lots of questions. He's about my age, lean and bald. He didn't know you couldn't buy beer in Indiana on Sunday, so he's been going up and down the beach and offering to buy a beer for a dollar (quite successfully, too). After getting out, I shower, return to the campground, and write all this. It's 5:08.

I put up my hammock between two trees, relax, and read for awhile. Last year I didn't use my hammock once- I'm already glad I brought it again. A little before 6 I get up. Most of my clothes are dry. I go over to the shelter house, where we're having our only provided meal. It's the same meal as last year, mixed fruit, potatoes in a sauce, lots of raw veggies and dip, chicken, and lemonade. I have lots of everything except chicken. I'm sitting at this table with two other guys, listening to a conversation the next table down. The three of us finish the meal without a word uttered, but when we're done, something sets us off, and we talk quite a while. One is a young guy who started out as a fine arts teacher, and is now a funeral director. The other is in his mid 50s, and works at Crane. Then Tom Mayer comes over and starts talking too. Around 7 I head back to camp. My new electronic computer isn't working right, and I'm concerned it's died. I guess I can do the trip without it if I must. I tinker with it a little while (no luck), and write a little more. Rest of evening is uneventful.

Monday, June 20

Last night after writing I found 2 ticks on my ankles. I will have to check carefully every day. I got to bed about 8:30. I didn't sleep too well, my "pillow" bothered me. Sometime in the night I figured out what was wrong with my computer - one of the magnets attached to the wheel fell off. I checked this morning, and sure enough, that's it. I could feel some ache in the front on my legs just above the knee, but nothing serious. This morning my legs feel fine.

About 4:45 the ritual begins, everybody up. I'm ready this year. At 5:25 the first riders leave. Since I'm not eating, I get packed up pretty quickly. I do forget to take a picture of the campsite as I meant to. I leave at 5:45, earlier than I ever got away last year. I go about 2 miles and pass my first rider, a woman on an all terrain bike. At 6:00 I turn onto SR 125, the road I'll be on for the next 15 miles, to Salem. It's a narrow, two lane, fairly busy highway, and I don't like it. We go up an endless hill, and quite a few bikers (serious types) pass me. I get to Salem a little after 7, about when I expected. I stop at Hardees and have 2 plain biscuits, 2 orange juices, and write a little. The place is packed. I think it's people on the way to church, when I realize it's Monday, not Sunday. I head out of town, having forgotten to mail letter one, a mistake I'll regret. The country here looks like a mini Wisconsin, hills and lots of dairy cattle. A while later we stop at a homey country house, where the parents of one of the riders live. They provide free iced tea and water, and a very shady lawn. I dawdle awhile, as do several others, as this is really pleasant. A few miles after this, we go down a very long, curvy, bumpy hill, which goes all the way to Leeta, which has a "Don't Miss" country store. One guy in the group there has gone down coming down the hill. His leg is bleeding, and his shoulder is hurt, but he seems to be able to continue. I go in the store, which is basically a craft type place that Carla would love, but I'm unmoved. I do ask if they know when I'll come to a post office. The lady said mail would be picked up at 1:30, and I couldn't get the letter out any earlier no matter what, so I left it for her to give the mailman. I hope that doesn't make it a day late. It's 9:45 and I've come about 38 miles.

At 11:00 I stop at Lexington, another very small town (that's all we've seen today). I'm glad to stop, it's really heating up and riding is getting quite tiring. I have a cheese sandwich and a quart (yes, a quart) of OJ, use the bathroom, and re-stock water. From here to Hanover, about 10 miles, I hook up with a really nice guy whose name I didn't get. He is from around Ft. Wayne, and a little younger than me. Turns out he also has a motorcycle, a Honda, but otherwise it sounds exactly like mine, a 500 cc with mono shock in back. Anyway, we talk constantly until we get to Hanover, where I see a nice, shady spot, and am feeling the need to stretch and drink, so he goes on. Just after this stop I come to a Dairy Queen. Three riders, including Tom Mayer are there, so I stop, have a Coke, and put the leftover ice in my water bottle, and head out.

It's 12:40, 3 miles to go. I arrive at Clifty Falls State Park at 1:00. Before getting to the campground, I stop at a scenic overlook and take a picture. I get to the campground, it's pretty nice, not many trees, but a find a spot with 3 trees together for hammock and clothes line. I put up the tent, wash out my clothes, and head for the pool. The water is cold and feels great. After swimming and a shower, I return to the campground. I see the guy who fell earlier today. He's all bandaged up and is leaving in a car. I hear later he broke his collar bone and fractured a couple of ribs. As I'm lying in the hammock writing, Tom Mayer and the guy I sat with at dinner last night (the mortician) come up an talk quite a while. We may go to Sirloin Stockade in town later.

I read awhile in the hammock. The hammock has turned out to be the greatest conversation starter ever. I seem to be the only person with one, and everyone is jealous. One person even asked if I had to special order it from a sporting goods supply house! Around 5:30 about 20 of us ride to Madison to the Sirloin Stockade. By the time we get there, I'm sweating profusely. So much for the shower. We go in, and I have to pay 30 cents more for a salad bar than I would for a chopped steak, baked potato, and salad bar. I ask the girl if she couldn't ring up a chopped steak, but no, so as a matter of principle I pay the 30 cents. It's the first real food I've had since Saturday night, and I have 2 huge helpings of salad. I ride back to camp and find that my tent and hammock are now in the sun, so I go over to the other end of our area to a shady picnic table and write, which is where I am now.

Today we rode 68.7 official miles (not the 77 I thought we would). I probably rode another 6-8 after arriving. Tomorrow, I hear, is option day - either 50 or 85 miles. I'd like to do the 85, but this is the day I said I might meet the Wicks. I don't want to get in too late. We'll see...

Tuesday, June 21

I wake up at 4:45. I slept much better last night, and feel pretty good. I felt a tiredness in my legs again last night, but they're OK now. I've decided to take the short route today - 54 miles. If Becky Wicks drives over, I don't want to get in too late. The 85 miles route is reputed to be killer hills all the way. I think I could make it, but with 4 days to go, I don't want to burn out or get injured. Last night and early this morning we had thunder and lightening around us, but no rain. Today the sky is cloudy. I'm out about 5:45. In town (Madison) I stop at Arbys for breakfast with a few other riders. When we leave, it's raining lightly. We ride through "old Madison", where I mail letter # 2, take a picture of Lanier Mission State Memorial, and enjoy the old buildings and the river.

It's 18 miles from Madison to Vevay. It's a pleasant state highway that follows the Ohio River, and isn't too busy. It drizzles off and on most of the way, fairly hard for a few minutes, but mostly lightly. By the time I reach Vevay it's stopped raining and looks like it will be a sunny day. At Vevey I stop at a little restaurant where a lot of bikers are. It's very crowded. I sit next to Tom Mayer and across from a couple from Bloomington. He has ordered a large stack of pancakes. This guy is about Larry Rusk's size, but can only eat about half these pancakes. I order a single pancake and decaf. By the time I finish, most of the other riders have gone on.

The next town is Moorefield, about 5 more miles. From here on there's a small town about every 5 miles, which I like a lot. The sky is now all blue, and it's getting hotter. For some reason, it seems to take about an hour to get to Moorefield. It's all uphill,, but smooth and gradual, and it seems like I'm moving right along. It's a real pleasant road through the hills, not much traffic. The local plant is (I think) tobacco, and it's really dying in the fields. I'm in Moorefield at 10:00. I stop at a small general store and buy an orange drink and oatmeal cookie. The store is run by an old man talking to another old man, and looks like it might be closing soon (the shelves are bare).

It's about 5 miles to Pleasant. There I stop and buy some 3 in 1 oil, which I've been meaning to do ever since the trip started. The chain has been creaking the whole trip. I put oil on the chain, and it's amazing how much quieter and smoother it is then. The bike seems to pedal easier too. The next town, Cross Plains, has a real good store (our main judgement of a town). Lots of real juice, friendly people, and free water. They also have a pay phone, so I call Becky Wicks. It seems she has practically forgotten the whole thing, so she asks to call me back in a few minutes after she looks at a map. She does, and agrees to meet me at the campground entrance at 3:00. It's now 11:20.

The next town is supposed to be about 5 miles, then another 5 to Versailles. It's the most "country" road we've been on, and I really enjoy it. It's pretty shady and not too rough. However, it seems like it's taking forever. Finally I see civilization ahead and figure I'm there. Then I see a water tower - I'm at Versailles. I don't know what happened to the other town. I mean to stop in Versailles for lunch, but I guess we skirted the town, because before I know it I'm out of town, headed for the park, going down a long, long hill. So much for lunch. I'm in the park at 12:25. The campground looks real nice, we have showers close by. Incredible! I put my tent up on the edge of our area so I can utilize a group of trees for hammock and clothes line. I get the tent up, have a cold Coke, and lie in the hammock a few minutes. Then I shower and wash out my clothes, go for a walk down to the campground entrance to write and wait for Becky. She's a little late arriving, so I'm sitting under a tree for about 45 minutes. I don't recognize her at first because her hair is so short. Jesse and Emily are with her. Jesse is a lot like Jennifer, never stops talking, and Emily is a quiet, well behaved baby. We go to the pool for about 3 hours, getting in the water every time we heat up. It's very hot, and the water feels great. Then we look for a restaurant, but the only thing in town is Ernie's Pizza Parlor. We go there, and it isn't bad. We find out they're delivering about 30 pizzas out to the campground, and are totally overwhelmed. We head back to the park, stopping to take pictures in front of an old wooden covered bridge. It's not light enough, but I hope for the best. After Becky lets me out, we say our goodbyes, and I see a note on my tent. It says,"Dear Vincennes, Watch for us in Sunman tomorrow. Your last years next door neighbors - Wanda, Ginger, Jenny, Elaine". I have no idea what this means for a minute. Then someone tells me, this is the women who camped beside me one or two nights last year, that I complained about at first, and who thought I was an ex-priest. They left notes on other tents who were on last year's ride also. I guess they live in Sunman, where we're going tomorrow, and are going to have tea and cookies for us. I finish writing this as it's getting dark. I still haven't got my bedding ready, written a letter to Carla, and I wanted to write short letters to all the kids tonight. I may have to write holding the flashlight in my teeth. Tomorrow's ride - 75 miles, the longest yet.

Wednesday, June 22

Again I'm up before 5. I see the first rider leaving at 5:15. I'm shooting for 5:30 (It's going to be a long ride). I don't quite make it, but I'm gone about 5:36. All of a sudden I realize I've forgotten again to take a picture of the campsite, and it was a good one. My legs ached a little again last night, but feel fine now. I slept pretty well too. We leave on SR 129, it's cool, almost chilly, and the road is smooth and level. I figure I'm riding about 20 mph. I arrive in Milan, home of 1954 State Basketball Champs, which inspired the movie "Hoosiers". We all stop at a small corner cafe. The waitress is overwhelmed. It takes forever to get our food, but it's good. I have pancakes and coffee. It's 7:30 by the time I leave. I ride down to the post office 2 blocks away. Mail is picked up twice a day, 7 am and 5 pm. I wish I had come down while waiting for the pancakes, and hope they're not too serious about the 7 am departure.

Coming out of Milan we're going uphill, and I come upon a man who rides beside his wife, and pushes on her back with his hand to help her. I noticed this the other day too. He's built like Mike Kaiser, she's kind of wide and fat. At 8:15 I get to Sunman, where the 4 women from last year have put up welcoming signs, and have a table up in the yard with lemonade and cookies. As I coast in they cheer. I have several glasses of lemonade and several cookies, and have my picture taken with them. The ride from Sunman to Morris is great, country roads, smooth, and even though it's hot, it's breezy, so it doesn't feel too bad. As I turn a corner, and old man in a truck leans his head out the window and says, "The others are already way up ahead!" I guess he thought I was the last one, and was getting left behind.

Soon I enter Batesville. I thought the population sign said 4400, but it looks bigger than Vincnnes. There's a casket factory on the edge of town, and it seems like, lots of stores and industry. Several people have commented that they don't see how I make it without biking shorts. The seat is feeling pretty hard, so I've decided to buy a pair if I see a bike shop. I do, and pay $29.95, which isn't bad for buying on the spur of the moment. I put them on in the store, and I do notice a big difference. The chamois in the crotch is thick, and covers the whole seat, adding a lot of cushion. I leave Batesville about 9:30, having come 32 miles. In 3 miles I stop at Oldenburg, "Village of Spires". I stop, take a few pictures, and drink a quart of OJ. There are 3 large cathedrals in this tiny town, hence it's nickname. I see a statue of the virgin Mary, with roses underneath, and the sunlight on it, and take a picture for Carla.

On the way to Metamora I come upon a man and woman riding together, just as they have come upon a little kitten apparently left abandoned by someone. They're trying to decide whether to carry it to the next house. I feel they're asking for trouble, and stay out. (Me - the great protector of animals?) Metamora is quite a surprise - it's a real tourist town, almost like Nashville. There are quite a few shops, a canal and boat, and a grist mill. I spend quite a lot of time here, as does everyone. I buy presents for both Heather and Jennifer, but can't find anything for Josh or Carla. I don't have much room left to carry things anyway. Even though we have a long ride today, everyone seems to be taking it slow and easy. I leave about 11:30, having come 44 miles.

At Laurel (51 miles) I stop at a little grocery and have a cheese sandwich and Gatorade. I talk awhile with Gates and Pat Agnew, a couple from Bloomington who are open and friendly, and who I've mentioned before but couldn't recall their names. From Laurel to Alquina is a hot ride, and I drink frequently. We're mainly on country roads. At a little town, Everton, I stop at a bait shop and have 2 bottles of grapefruit juice. There's one adult man, 3 or 4 teen age boys, and a pregnant teen age girl. They're all very talkative and curious about our trip, and can't believe how far I've ridden. The girl asks where the trip started, and I answer "Bloomington". She says "Where's zat?" I say Bloomington, Indiana, and she says, "Never heard of it." One of the boys says "IU, you know, Indiana Hoosiers." She looks at him blankly.

At Alquina, Dave Myers from Ohio catches me, and we ride the rest of the way together. He's the guy who was pushing his wife up the hills. He tells me she pooped out in Metamora, and took the van on into camp. He's very talkative, and is telling me about all kinds of tours in Ohio. We get to Whitewater State Park about 2:30, having come 76 miles (my new record for 1 day!) We're in the Youth Campground, which could be bad, but isn't. We have a large, shady area, and a short walk to the showers! Most of the trees are far apart, but I find a spot on the edge with 2 trees to accommodate the hammock. After getting the tent set up, I shower, come back, eat a can of vegetable soup (the first), and start writing. I decide I'd better take a picture of my campsite now, since I keep forgetting. My camera is locked in my bike box, and I realize I left my keys in the shower. I walk back, and luckily, they're still there. I write for quite a while. It's 5:00. It doesn't look like immediate rain, but the wind has been real gusty, like it could storm later. There's no place to eat in the park, and town is about 5 miles away. There are plans to order a pizza later, but the way I've been spending money, I think I'll just eat more soup. Maybe I'll go to the beach later, swim, and get some junk food. When they start taking food orders, about 5:30, I can't resist, and order a plain small pizza, with onions, peppers, and olives - only $3.00. I hear that one guy had 7 flats today. Apparently he got some new kind of wheels and tires just before the tour, and his inner tube is getting pinched. I forgot to mention we had another accident today. Tom, the beer drinker from Ohio I mentioned earlier, had a German Shepherd pup chase him this morning. The dog got under the front wheel and caused a crash. Tom had some cuts and bruises on his arm, but seemed to be OK. Also, on Monday, one guy quit. Just called his wife and had her pick him up because he couldn't handle it. He didn't look in very good shape, but talked like an experienced biker.

About 8:00 I can't wait any longer. I go call Carla. Jenny answers the phone, and is so excited I can't believe it. I have a great talk with Carla. I go back, pick up an orange soda, air up the air mattress, take my clothes off the line, then drink the soda and finish writing. Tomorrow's ride is about 65 miles, I think. The only non-bikers camped in our area are 2 families with lots of kids, camped nearest to me. I hope they're not loud late. If so, they'll be sorry in the morning.

Thursday, June 23

Again I'm up a little before 5. I'm very close to the primitive bathroom most of the people are using, but I walk the path through the woods to the modern one. Flushing toilets and running water - what a luxury! I'm in no hurry today, as it's a fairly short, easy ride, but somehow at 5:40 I'm on my bike and on my way. It's about 15 miles to Connersville, where I plan to eat breakfast. The ride there is pleasant, kind of hilly, and I'm doing lots of gliding. I get to Connersville about 7. I eat at Wendys, having French toast, plain biscuit, and coffee. I leave about 7:25.

From Connersville to Andersonville it's still cool and breezy, and the air feels great coasting down the hills. At one point I pass something on the road that looks like a toy, but I go back, and it's a small pocket knife that looks like a tiny derringer. I stop and pick it up. I'm now riding with this guy I had been following for a long time. We miss the turn to Bird Sanctuary, a half mile off our route, which I had wanted to see. I almost go back, but don't. In a minute he spots some raspberry bushes, and we stop and eat a few. In a minute Joe and Krissi Anderson stop and join us. I take a picture, and we move on. The Andersons take off ahead, and in a little while I leave the other guy behind, who, for some reason, I didn't like riding with. For some reason I'm singing the old Byrds song "Take a Whiff. The song is about cocaine, but I guess I'm singing it because of the fresh air. Yesterday it was "Wolverton Mountain". I don't know where they come from.

At Andersonville a lot of riders are stopped at a small market. I stop and have a huge cheese sandwich and a quart of OJ for 2 dollars. Trying to hold down the expenses today. The people in the store are super friendly. This is the only real food stop until Shelbyville, so everyone is eating up. I talk to Tom Mayer awhile about his pedals, which are flat and don't dig into the soles of his shoes like mine. I leave at 9:30, having come 33 miles. I ride on and come to the first of 2 or 3 covered bridges we'll see today. This one is not particularly noteworthy, except it's closed to regular vehicles (it has rocks piles up in the middle to keep cars out). I take a picture. About 5 miles farther is a really nice, big covered bridge. Several people are already there, so I stop to rest and take a couple pictures. It's now 11:00, and we have 14 miles left.

At the next intersection, a boy about 12 is standing with a pitcher in his hands. He asks if I want some Kool-Aid. I say sure, and have about half a glass. Afterwards I think it couldn't have anything worse than sugar or poison in it. We stay on Blue Ridge Road a long way, about 10 miles, and the closer we get to Shelbyville, the bumpier it gets. Right before the next turn off I stop in the shade of a cemetery, and drink and rest. It's 11:50, and the bottoms of my feet are hurting. Once into Shelbyville I see a Dairy Queen, and can't resist having some vanilla ice cream and water. The Andersons are there too. This DQ has no inside seating, so we have to sit outside in the shade. Then we ride on through town to the city park. This is by far our worst facility so far. It's fairly shady, but no trees close together, so the hammock is out. The restroom is far away, and is a complete pit. No way I will sit on that toilet. The only running water is a water fountain than bubbles straight up, so you can't even fill a water bottle. Anyway, I put up my tent, wash out my new riding shorts as best I can, and change clothes. Then I head into town. My goal: stay as long as possible so I can get back to camp as late as possible - there's nothing to do here. First I go to a bike shop, hoping to get a new magnet to fix my odometer, but the man tells me I'll have to get my brand (that means Olney). Then I head to the library. It's an old Carnagie Library, reminds me of the one in Mt. Carmel, when I was a boy. But it's air conditioned, has cold water, and some books, so I figure I can spend a while there. First I write my journal up to date. Then I read magazines until about 3:15. I'm getting hungry, but I'd like to buy food just one more time today. My plan is to hit Wendys, stuff myself, then go to the pool (it's near our campground) until it closes at 7. After that, I don't know. I read magazines for awhile, then go out to look for food. I'm trying to find Wendys, which we passed on the way in, but I get lost. Finally I find it, and notice that next door is a steakhouse. I decide to try that, but the salad bar is $4.95, so I go to Wendys. The air conditioning isn't working, and it must be 100 degrees. No wonder I'm the only one in here. I decide to stay since I haven't showered yet, and I had my heart (stomach) set on a salad bar. I have three large platters, and wrap about a dozen breadsticks in a napkin for later. Before leaving I use the men's room. Strangely, it's about 65 degrees. Then I fill both water bottles (I'll need them at the campsite), and head for the pool. It's about 4:45. My plan is to stay at the pool until it closes at 7. I shower with soap, then alternate jumping in and drying off. At 5:45 I decide I've really had enough of the pool. I go back to camp and hang out my towel and swim suit. For the first time I haven't washed out my clothes, except for the riding shorts. I should have enough of everything else to make it to the end of the ride. Not much is going on at the campsite. Most everyone is gone. My plan now is to return to the library (they're open until 9) and stay as late as I can, maybe grab a cold drink on the way back, and get back just in time to turn in.

Today is starting to feel like the "home stretch" of the trip. Last year at this time I was done. The next two days are easy, fast rides of 50 miles or less. I'm sure they will go fast, particularly Saturday. At 7:40 I'm getting tired of hanging around the library. I think I'll go look for a cold drink or something, and maybe get back between 8 and 8:30. I stop at the Cow Palace, an ice cream store / restaurant. I have a milk shake and get to talking to 7 or 8 other bikers. We talk about a half an hour, and head back to camp. I bring in my clothes, blow up the air mattress, and get my bedding ready. It's cooler tonight, not bad in the tent. It's after 9, and still a lot of talking and activity. I'm looking forward to tomorrow, the last full day, and hope to find something to give Carla and Josh at Nashville.

Friday, June 24

It was a cooler night, and sleeping was great. However, for some reason, I wake up early, about 4:30, and wait to hear the zippered sounds of others getting up. I don't particularly hurry, but I'm heading out at 5:40. First I backtrack into town, find a Union 76, and use the bathroom. The one at the park was a total pit, and there was no way I wanted my body to touch those toilets. Just out of Shelbyville I stop at a small market for OJ and a small apple pie. The road to Marietta is great, the weather cool and beautiful. At Marietta, 8 miles, the only store is closed, so I'm glad I got food earlier. At the Blue River Seperatist Baptist Church I stop to rest and drink, and write a little. Not much later I pass a raccoon a few feet off the road. I guess it was dead, it looked like a dog or something, just laying there. Just before getting to Edinburg I see a man exercising a horse, pulling a surrey behind. We cross over I-65 and see a Johnson County sign. This is the county my rented house is in, which seems strange. In Edinburg I stop at a downtown cafe, and order pancakes and coffee, and use the bathroom. As I'm eating this other biker, Debbie, from Bloomington, comes in. This is the same woman I mentioned yesterday, riding the all terrain bike. She sits behind me, so I ask her to join me. I ask her what she does in Bloomington, and it turns out she works with handicapped, learning disabled children, at Stone Belt. So then I tell her about Carla and her work with gifted and talented. I leave about 7:30, having come 18 miles.

The next leg of the route is Edinburg to Ninevah. It seems that Camp Atterbury extends the whole way. We're on a smooth, fairly flat state highway, and I'm in the mood to fly. I'm pedaling really fast, and it feels great, and it seems like I get to Ninevah instantly. At Ninevah I buy a huge red apple at a fruit stand for 35 cents, put it in the bag for later, and take off. It begins to get very hilly, and I'm using my granny gear a lot. It's beautiful country, about where the Hilly Hundred goes on the second day, may even be the same road. Soon I see Joe and Krissy Anderson stopped at a small country cemetery, with a huge tombstone in the middle. I stop, and have my picture taken.

At 10:00 (37 miles) I stop at Gatesville. This is the highlight of today's tour map, with a great general store and a two story courthouse. Also, a little park with an old fashioned water pump and shelter house. A lot of riders are stopped here, lingering. There's also a male and female cat, and three kittens. One kitten looks exactly like mom, one exactly like dad, and the other is a combination. I take pictures and move on. The next 8 miles to Nashville is hilly and full of log cabins and rustic homes, really beautiful. I'm finally starting to work up a sweat going up the hills, and the temperature is rising.

I arrive at Nashville at 11:00. I lock the bike, eat my apple in the shade, and rest a minute. My plan is to stay here, and shop and eat now, and not come back after getting to the park, as it's 5 miles, all uphill. I shop a bit, get a couple of ideas for things to get Josh and Carla. Then I go to the IGA and get a cheese sandwich and a quart of OJ, and a large bag of generic Doritos, all for under three dollars. I eat on a bench under the shade, then shop some more. I had seen a small, flattish basket (to hang on the wall), and a stained glass piece with wildflowers, in a store earlier, that I thought about getting Carla. I went back to the glass shop and bought Carla that, then went back to a shop I'd been in earlier and bought Josh something. It's about 1:00. I have a bowl of ice cream, and hang around the court house and talk with a group of other riders. About 2 I head on out to Brown County State Park. I don't mind getting there this early now, because I've heard there are showers we can use at the campground.Earlier we had thought we would have only the pool showers to use, which is at the bottom of the 4 mile hill below the campsite. I make it in the park and up the hill. This is the same hill that almost killed me four years ago, when I first got my bike and went on my first trip, alone, and carrying all my gear on the bike.

The campground is very disappointing, considering Brown County's regular campground is nice. We're in a sunny field near the woods, no trees, few tables. The tents are all being put up close together near the woods, where the only shade is. As I'm putting up my tent, a deer comes by, going right up to people and eating out of their hands. I take two pictures, then I ride to the bathhouse, put on my swim trunks, and wash out my riding shorts. I hang them out, then ride down to the pool. After swimming, I'll have to ride back up the killer hill, but then I can shower again. I stay at the pool about two hours, until 6:45, then ride back. The hill isn't so bad now, as it's shady. Then I shower and go to the camp store, which has closed. On the way to the tent, I pick up tomorrow's route, 43 miles, and they give us our T-shirts commemorating the ride. Craving a cold drink, I ride back to the park office a mile away, where the nearest cold drink machines are. Then I have two cans of vegetable soup, the rest of the Doritos, and my soft drink. I write a while, and listen to the radio. It's a little after 8.

The trip is about over. Actually, if they were to have some kind of ending ceremony (they don't), like a dinner or something, this would be the night to do it. This has been a real good week. Like last year, it had a life of it's own, a beginning, middle, and end. I was more certain of some things, like knowing I could make it, but still a little anxious of the social aspect. If/when I do this again, what would I do differently? Real biking shoes, to save the feet. A new tent would be nice (this ones a little small, and may be starting to rip). Bring more money. Last year (5 days) I brought $50, and spent almost all. This year (7 days) I brought $95 and spent almost all. I didn't feel I was more extravagant, but I guess I saved some money last year fixing some of my own meals. I'd really like to figure a way to use a tape recorder instead of, or in addition to, writing. I forget a lot of thoughts and incidents while I'm riding, and getting everything on paper is hard.

Saturday, June 25

(This was the last day of the tour, and at the end of the ride we were in Bloomington, where Carla was waiting to pick me up and take me home. For this reason, I didn't write up what happened at the end of the day. I'm sure I meant to soon, but apparently never did. In finding my notes years later, they were very skimpy, and pretty much stopped completely at 14 miles. I imagine I was just in a hurry to get back, and stopped taking notes.)

I am awake at 4:45. I lay awhile, and get up about 5. I walk to the "civilized" bath house, taking my time. At 6 I'm ready to go, and see that almost everyone else got an early start today. Probably everyone is in a hurry to get back now. I think I hear thunder and see lightening off in the distance. The ride is very hilly, and I pass lots of rustic cabins - probably belonging to rich Indianapolis people. I stop at Hardess in Nashville, at the 14 mile mark, as I'm taking the "long route" today.