Day 24, May 17, 2011, Lebanon, IN to Richmond, IN

112 miles and 1200 feet of climbing.  When I was researching this ride their literature made the point that we would be riding in challenging weather conditions and that we would encounter days that if we were at home we would not ride.  They were not exaggerating!!  When I left the motel this a.m. it was 38 degrees and windy (out of the North).  A few blocks down the road I hooked up with a local who was just heading out on a training ride.  We chatted for a few minutes and then it began to rain.  He announced that he was going home, did a U turn and left.  Oh how I envied that boy!  It was another miserable day out on the road.  It rained all day and the rain was driven by 15 mph winds, the kind that just stings your cheeks and lips.   I doubt that it ever got above 45 degrees.  To make it worse there was one major detour due to construction and several roads that just did not match up with our maps/cue sheets.  This added 6 miles to what was supposed to be a short day.  Early in the day we were on back country roads and from what I could see there was some beautiful terrain.  The 2^nd half of the day was spent on Hwy 40.  I arrived at the motel about 5:00 p.m..  Spent 9 hours on the road, 8 hours on the bike and averaged about 14 mph..  The best part of the day was that I had to tell the desk clerk who I was!  Crane the Clydesdale just keeps chugging along!

Sorry, no pics today.  I should have brought an underwater camera!