After yesterdays long drawn out and extra long ride we could have done with a gentle short ride today,but we certainly did not get it! We set off at 07.30 in company with Bill and Linda,Greg and Tom and Charlie,who is suffering with a knee problem.Although the group broke up a bit on the road with photos,rest stops etc ,we enjoyed some easier riding in somebody's wind shadow.By 40 Kms Elizabeth and I were on our own,climbing up an endless series of hills,one could call them rollers but often they were quite steep,11% was not uncommon.But there was a breeze and pretty agricultural scenery.In one spot even some Iris to enlighten the ride.
At 50 Kms we arrived at the rest of the group,who were assembled to ride into the small town of Maysville.All the infants had come out of school to line the road and sing to us as we cycled into town.In the town the above named society had laid on a special refreshment stop outside the museum,run by the society.Pink lemonade,sandwiches and cakes had been prepared for us and the museum available for our inspection.An astonishing archive of ancient taxation papers,war mementos,and old hand sewn wall hangings provided interest whilst we enjoyed the cool of the air conditioning.
Most of the town seemed to have come out to meet us,including the mayor and a delightful 96 year old who had been in Paris in the war.Replete and with water bootles full of pink lemonade we set off again along the endless hills.
rrived at this edifice.
This session was very long,nigh on 40 miles to the next stop with a temperature touching 41°C and climb after climb,often greater than 10%.Completely out of liquid we arrived at the second stop,where we ate all the goodies and popped down the road for two bottles of Cola.
We crossed this very muddy river and saw a lot of flood debris about,but the focus was now clearly on getting to the end.One hill on this last stretch was 13.6% according to my GPS,my legs thought it was over 20!There were some attractive spots,a lot of small lakes
The roads were very changeable in quality but we had a laugh when we a
And when we eventually cycled in to Chillicothe we discovered it's claim to fame
The heat led to me jumping pretty quickly into the pool,followed by a soak in the jacuzzi,Elizabeth meanwhile carried on with the washing,but I will leave you with a comment from Tom F,one of the American cyclists "Ah Man"he said to me "I gotta tell you,that Elizabeth she's amazing,she is sensational"---all i could reply is I agree
I agree too!!
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