Day 23, May 16, 2011, Tuscola, IL to Lebanon, IN

121 miles and 1200 feet of climbing.  Our coast to coast ride continues and boy are we knocking the miles down and making big progress.  Today we crossed into Indiana, our 9^th state.  We only have 5 states left to go.  We also crossed into the EST zone, our 4^th time zone of the trip.  My odometer indicates I have traveled 2393 miles.  We have 10 days left.

When we left at 7:15 a.m. it was 38 degrees with a wind chill factor of 32.  Winds were 15 mph out of the north.  The winds increased as the day went on and the temp topped out at 50 degrees.  The only good thing about the weather was that the sun was shining and there was no rain.  It was just a chilly, blustery kind of a day.   I keep telling my cohorts from more temperate climates to get used to it as we are now in the middle of the mid west.  I was on the road for 10 hours, on the bike for 9 hours and averaged just 13.5 mph.  We spent some time traveling north so the wind was right on our nose.  The rest of the day it was hitting us on the side and doing its best to put us in the ditch.  The one thing consistent about this entire trip has been the wind.  It has never stopped blowing and challenging us. 

I ate dinner at Steak & Shake again tonight.  When I ordered my 2^nd large chocolate milk shake the waitresses felt the need to clarify that there were no free refills.

I am surprised how well I am feeling.  When I go to bed at night I am exhausted and sore all over.  When I wake up I am surprised that I am not all that sore and can get out of bed without assistance.  I am sleeping so well that I am awaken by the alarm clock each morning.  It was been a long time since I was able to sleep that well.  Though the motel clerk did  not have to ask my name tonight, there were many gazelles waiting in line to check in when I got here.  The weather is taking the toll on the little guys!

Life is very, very good!

Another state bites the dust.  9 down and 5 to go!