Memorial Day Weekend 2012

Thursday 24 May 2012  ~ Cincinnati to Columbus, Ohio

We spent an amazing two nights at the Glasgo Farm in Guilford, Indiana, a short drive east of Cincinnati. Lush rolling hills, black angus cattle, idyllic in its purest form.

Sunset at the Glasgo Farm

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Friday 25 May 2012 ~ Day Off in Columbus

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Saturday 26 May 2012 ~ Columbus Solidarity Ride

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Sunday 27 May 2012 ~ Columbus, Ohio to Athens, Ohio

Cycling at its best: flat, smooth, shaded, calm, cool. 

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Monday 28 May 2012 ~ Athens, Ohio to Harrisville, West Virginia

Happy Memorial Day

We Remember the Men and Women Who Made the Ultimate Sacrifice in Defending the United States of America

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Crossing into West Virginia from Ohio. Oswalt the Eagle has accompanied us all this time.

Rest Stop #2: Nothing like napping under the shade during a hot and humid afternoon.

Happy to have arrived at Harrisville :)

Team FBlair, pronounced "fuh-blare" : me, Jessica, Skylar, Blair - clearly the best crew ;)

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One more state line to cross before entering the District of Columbia! We'll be in DC by Friday afternoon, wow! Wish I had more time to reflect and wax poetic...but sleep has been beckoning for the past quarter hour. More to come tomorrow (hopefully). 

Three States in Three Days

Ohio River, Indiana-Kentucky border.

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Saturday 19 May 2012 ~ Mount Vernon, Illinois to Evansville, Indiana

Yesterday (Friday) we left STL for Mount Vernon, and by tomorrow we will be in Kentucky; crossing three states in three days! In Mount Vernon we stayed at St. Mary's Good Samaritan Hospital, and the PR director wanted a group photo for the hospital paper.

Pace-lining to Evansville. Amanda, Nicole, Reena, Jessie.

Illinois lays claim to Lincoln, as does Indiana, and probably Kentucky too.

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Sunday 20 May 2012 ~ Evansville, Indiana to Louisville, Kentucky

I was dreading this day after last night's briefing about the route and conditions: 120+ miles, 90+ degrees with humidity, losing one hour to the time zone change...'twas going to be a long long day. But it turned out to be better than I expected. It was hot, but not unbearable. We even had an early afternoon sprinkle that dropped the temperature 15 points. I tell my friends, I can be wet and warm, or cold and dry, but I can't do cold and wet. Today was wet and warm.

Coulter's bike had a slight structural issue right after mile 100. Lengthening shadows as I neared the end point.

Almost 125 miles today! The clock reads 17:02 but it's in PST, so 20:02 in EST. 

I love my bike.

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Monday 21 May 2012 ~ Rest Day in Louisville

We all needed the day off today. Lynn's Paradise Cafe was the perfect quirky stop for a group of travel-weary cyclists.

Light-hearted moment: Fuzzie, Rosie, Jessie.

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Tuesday 22 May 2012 ~ Louisville, Kentucky to Cincinnati, Ohio

Another 100+ miles today.

Only in Kentucky? Praise the Lord for Rest Stop #2 at DQ :)

Rest Stop #3 at the Birthplace of American Paleontology. There was Big Bone Road, Big Bone Creek, Big Bone Cafe...you name it, it was Big Bone.

111 miles; my bottom really felt this one. Crew #5 welcomed us with a finish line tape and inflatable toys. We also had a water balloon fight but I was afraid to get my camera wet so the frivolity was not documented.

Technically we ended in Ludlow, Kentucky and racked into the Indiana/Ohio border to stay at Blair's parent's farm.

Group shot. Little kids on Blair's 15-year old trampoline.

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Can't wait to be in Columbus tomorrow!!! 

(this post was completed on Wednesday 23 May 2012)

Missouri: Gateway to the West

Thursday 17 May 2012 ~ Washington, MO to Saint Louis, MO

Missouri went by quickly, and I really enjoyed biking across this state. The rolling hills are probably my favorite road type to tackle (my friends on the trip may strongly disagree :)

Abramoff and his war paint routine.

Lounging at Starbucks upon arrival to STL. One of my favorite drinks is the caramel frappuccino.

Blair, Amanda, Skylar.

We had to do the O-H-I-O. First time to the Saint Louis Arch, Gateway to the West.

Me trying to be artsy :) ... Blair, Skylar, Jessie, Coulter, Amanda ... Jessie and Abramoff posing.

A group of us enjoying second dinner and dessert at a bar restaurant in downtown STL. Root beer float :)

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Friday 18 May 2012 ~ Saint Louis, MO to Mount Vernon, Illinois

The morning routine: loading our Budget truck. Lisa is the master organizer and packer of the group.

Bike-racking crew. 

Balancing act: the Rattler is staying up all by itself in the long grass :)

Lunch Stop @ Lion's Park, southern Illinois. Fancy tuna pasta salad courtesy of one of our portions riders, Mr. Roth. 

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Great ride today, joined the Brad speed wagon and basically raced to Mount Vernon. Can't believe the trip is almost over :( we'll be in Columbus in six days! We're only spending one night in Illinois, which is tonight. Tomorrow is Evansville, Indiana, then Louisville by Monday I think. Sigh...don't want it to be over yet.