Indianapolis to Richmond, IN

Shhhhh...don't tell anyone, we had a tailwind today.  Yes, headed east for most of the ride with a moderate SW wind pushing us along on flat, country roads.  After the "dawn patrol" left, there were only five riders remaining to depart thirty minutes later: Jack, Darrell, Mike R, Dan, and me.  As usual, the two big dogs, Jack and Darrell, burned up the road leaving Mike, Dan, and me to bring up the rear.  Before the SAG stop, we overtook a couple of riders and the two big dogs!  Darrell had another fl@t or, as the Brits call it, a puncture.  It's been explained to me that a fl@t is the result of a puncture of the inner-tube.  Anyway, we arrived at the SAG to discover the road ahead was closed due to construction.  CrossRoads staff were quickly trying to sort out a detour or find out if cyclists could get through.  Howard (CR staff) returned from an exploratory look and said it was doable for cyclists; it involved some walking through chip seal, but was passable.  A few miles later, we encountered more closed roads and construction but got through with a little difficulty.  All this fussing with construction slowed us down.  I didn't take many pictures today, as there was little to photograph and it was too tempting to take advantage of the wind.

The towns are getting bigger and closer together; the farms are getting smaller as we head east.  Still, there's a lot of corn planted in the heartland.

4:21; 74 miles; 1,623' climb; 3,877 Calories.

Just because.

Construction.  Road closed! 

Small town America. 

The Amish do not like having their photographs taken.  We've seen several buggies on the road but have deferred to their wished.  Here's my substitute. 

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The next two weeks are going to be gone before we know it; time to slow down and savor each day’s ride.

Here’s what’s left; the list is getting very short:

Marysville, OH

Wooster, OH

Niles, OH

Erie, PA

Hamburg, NY

Canandaigua, NY

Syracuse North, NY

Herkimer, NY

Brattleboro, VT

Burlington, MA (Boston)