Day 11, 20 July (Distance Biked 45.1 miles): I departed Justin’s home and headed out later than I had expected to take off. I wanted to stay longer but I’d never make it to Anchorage without having to deal with the snow and ice; I still have to be prepared for the possible cold weather. I biked for almost 30 miles without seeing any services along my route and while I had plenty of warm water, I was ready for something cool and a little break. I was at a crossroads near Williams Center, OH and saw what I believed to be a store a little down the road off my route so I rode over to check it out. After buying sports drinks, nuts and ice cream, the store owner, Cara, kindly offered me some fresh green beans. Before cycling away Cara offered a place to camp on her parent’s farm a few miles away. My stay included a trip to a bigger store a few miles away and the opportunity to meet and talk with her parents. Her father is a 91 year-old Korean War veteran, the first I have met on this journey so far. That night I camped on an island in a pond next to their home.
Day 12, 20 July (Distance Biked 91.1 miles): I left that morning without disturbing Cara’s parents and biked back to Cara’s store to say thank you and goodbye. This was a long, hot day. Short of half-way, I stopped at an all-day breakfast diner where the staff thought I was short of crazy to be biking in the heat. One waitress insisted I have ice for the road and went next door to her relative’s store to get smaller cubes for my bottles. The heat was interrupted by afternoon thunder showers which were surprisingly cool and welcomed. I cycled for about 15 minutes in the rain and then sought sanctuary under a covered entrance to a closed business until the storm passed. The rest of the day was spent without passing any services on the route, which was dominated by Amish and Mennonite farms. I shared the road with their horse-drawn carts and their cyclists. On one farm I passed I saw two children, no older than 8-9, riding in an enclosed area in a tiny cart with a tiny pony. I stopped at sunset on the edge of a county dump/landfill, along a row of pine trees. I checked the weather forecast and saw that thunderstorms were due between 1-4 A.M., so I took the necessary time to set my tent up properly. I woke to thunder, lightening, a little rain and some strong gusts, but went back to sleep. As usual, I am slow at packing in the morning. This morning after walking around barefoot packing and re-packing my gear, I went to put on my socks and bike shoes, but noticed clumps of grass, pine straw and twigs stuck to the bottom of my feet; the bottoms of my feet were covered in pine-pitch and I looked like I could have been an extra in one of The Hobbit films.
Day 12.5, 21 July (Distance Biked 15+ miles so far). I am taking a lunch and heat break in a sandwich shop in North Liberty, Indiana. According to google maps, cycle option, Chicago is about 90 miles away. I will attempt to close that distance today/tonight; that is a long ride and I’ll see how it goes. I signed up on a cyclist supported website, warmshowers.org, where you offer to host cyclist around the world and you can try to find someone willing to put you up for the night. After much deliberation, I am revising my .5, 1/2 day entries. While today is my 13th day cycling, my 1/2 day entry will be tacked on to the previous full day number. I thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement.
Peace on the Peninsula 