Sunday, June 19th, 2011 (Day 5)
This morning we ended up leaving at about 945am. Steve gave us a bag that contained 4 stamped envelopes, some little american flags we could add to our flag poles, and some plastic bags. He was such a nice guy. Steve told us that the grocery store was just up the road so we decided we would just eat there.
Taking into account that the last time we got a distance estimate from steve it was doubled, we didn't even start looking for the grocery store until we had already covered about 3 or 4 miles. (Not very smart of us.) We obviously missed it, so we stopped and ate some peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches.
The whole morning was filled with exhausting hill climbs and horrifically hot weather. This was the first time of the trip that we actually rode without shirts, but the sun was still beating down and we were sweating buckets inside our velomobiles.
We rode to Brooklyn, IA and decided to have something to eat there. We bought some food at the gas station and took it back out by the highway, where we found a park and some shade. After eating and relaxing a bit we saw some springy critters there that we just had to ride. If I had to guess, I'd say we were just a bit heavier than the intended load.
Taking into account that the last time we got a distance estimate from steve it was doubled, we didn't even start looking for the grocery store until we had already covered about 3 or 4 miles. (Not very smart of us.) We obviously missed it, so we stopped and ate some peanut butter and Nutella sandwiches.
The whole morning was filled with exhausting hill climbs and horrifically hot weather. This was the first time of the trip that we actually rode without shirts, but the sun was still beating down and we were sweating buckets inside our velomobiles.
We rode to Brooklyn, IA and decided to have something to eat there. We bought some food at the gas station and took it back out by the highway, where we found a park and some shade. After eating and relaxing a bit we saw some springy critters there that we just had to ride. If I had to guess, I'd say we were just a bit heavier than the intended load.
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We were reluctant to leave our shady spot in Brooklyn, IA, but eventually did. I turned on some uplifting & fast paced music and we were off. Despite the heat, I was feeling great all of a sudden. I don't know whether it was the music, the sunshine, or the 5 hour energy I drank a little bit before, but whatever it was, I liked it, and we were hauling ass over all of the rolling hills for the next two hours.
Even so, we both wanted desperately to go swimming after going 35 miles past Brooklyn.
We stopped in the next town and visited their pool there. It was SUCH a relief to have all the sweat off our bodies and to cool down at the pool. What was also nice is that this pool offered a discount to all of the people that walked or rode their bikes to get there, so the bike racks there were stuffed full of bikes. What a great idea for a small business to do to make a difference!
After leaving the pool, we were both so tired out and relaxed and not in the mood to ride, but we pushed on anyways. It was pretty late when we left, the sun was already going down. We wanted to get to Des Moines tonight, but that didn't happen.
Instead Adam got a flat on one of the big hills only 2 miles from the Pool, then in another 4 miles he broke his derailleur. Somehow a stick got thrown up into it and jammed and bent it. So, I rode along side Adam as he towed his velomobile into town, to Newton, IA.
When we got into town, we ended up meeting two 15 year old guys that were riding around on their bikes. Incidentally, one of their names was also Chase. They were nice enough to show us how to get to the Holiday Inn in town.
Adam ended up towing his velomobile 4 miles from where it wrecked to the hotel we stayed at. I can only imagine how much that must've sucked.
Even so, we both wanted desperately to go swimming after going 35 miles past Brooklyn.
We stopped in the next town and visited their pool there. It was SUCH a relief to have all the sweat off our bodies and to cool down at the pool. What was also nice is that this pool offered a discount to all of the people that walked or rode their bikes to get there, so the bike racks there were stuffed full of bikes. What a great idea for a small business to do to make a difference!
After leaving the pool, we were both so tired out and relaxed and not in the mood to ride, but we pushed on anyways. It was pretty late when we left, the sun was already going down. We wanted to get to Des Moines tonight, but that didn't happen.
Instead Adam got a flat on one of the big hills only 2 miles from the Pool, then in another 4 miles he broke his derailleur. Somehow a stick got thrown up into it and jammed and bent it. So, I rode along side Adam as he towed his velomobile into town, to Newton, IA.
When we got into town, we ended up meeting two 15 year old guys that were riding around on their bikes. Incidentally, one of their names was also Chase. They were nice enough to show us how to get to the Holiday Inn in town.
Adam ended up towing his velomobile 4 miles from where it wrecked to the hotel we stayed at. I can only imagine how much that must've sucked.
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Adam pictured laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation - such a good sport!! xD
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Miles covered today: 45
Miles covered total: 340
Overnight Town: Newton, IA
Miles covered total: 340
Overnight Town: Newton, IA
