Todays Distance: 106 miles
Cycling time: 7 hrs 34 mins
Average Speed: 14 mph
Today’s cumulative ascent: 2691 ft
Average Heart rate: 116 bpm
Distance so far: 2513 miles
Ascent so far: 84,428 ft.
Centuries so far: 7
Punctures so far: 6
Today’s Profile:
Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today is July 4, Independence Day and I dedicate today’s cycle to Saoirse , our granddaughter in California. She is the only American citizen in our family and we’re so proud of her.A day of cycling a century on relatively quiet roads with no rain, plenty of comments and two punctures. What else do you need?
No rain or threat of rain as we gathered to set off at 7 am. A century (106 miles) lay ahead with the last of the rolling hills ( ‘Apples, oranges or chocolate. Anyone for the last of the Rolling Hills’ ) in the early stages and the prospect of 50 miles of level terrain for the last 50 miles
Being the Fourth of July it was a national holiday and a day of celebration. Almost all cyclists wore the America by Bicycle shirt with its stars and stripes. Also it was suggested that we decorate ourselves or our bikes to create a bit of atmosphere. No one knew what would appear till breakfast was over. I was disappointed with the amount who decorated. It was all a bit of craic. I had decided to put a bit of effort into it and had paid a visit to Joanne’s Fabrics during our rest day in St Joseph - after all my media responsibilities had been attended to! When we emerged for loading all was out in the open. 
Most of the other decorated ones were of the international contingent. My ensemble caught the eye with ohs and ahs and wows. (detailed description later). Many photos were taken before the off. The decorations were to be worn as far as the first SAG at least. I wore mine all day as it would have been difficult to remove it. After breakfast I was busy with needle and thread attaching the cape to my shirt and bib to make it secure. At the end of the day it took a while to snip the threads (especially with the left hand) without damaging the shirt. The flying cape caught the eye of motorists and pedestrians during the day … always complimentary. Actually I didn’t find the billowing cape any hindrance or drawback over the 106 miles.
Description for fashion and design gurus: a tightly fitted bodice featuring striking stars and stripes all covered by a waist-length flowing cape of printed cotton featuring interlocking stars and stripes motifs. All this underneath a tuile of discrete red and blue coloring emblazoned with bold stars of silver. A festively decorated neckpiece unified the total effect. Headwear consisted of a stiff Giro Atmos protective shell (non-optional) in appropriate colouring with a large red, white and blue Daisy Duck bow at the rear. So there you are now…. I did make a bit of an effort.
Today I cycled with Gary (IL) and obviously he had a lot of local information. We kept up a steady pace and only stopped for the two SAG stops and when I got the punctures. Two punctures today and both in the front. The first was just a slow leak at first and happened a mile short of the first SAG. A pumping up got me in and we repaired it there…a pinch flat. A new tube in, pumped to 100 lbs pressure and off again. The second happened just as we turned in to a gas station a few miles short of the motel. This time it was a tiny piece of radial wire and it took some time to find the culprit and remove it with a tweezers. Another new tube in etc. One good outcome of all this is that I now can whip off the tyre and replace it with my bare hands; levers are only for wimps! These hands are lethal at this stage.
There are firework displays and picnics this afternoon and evening in the large centres. I saw very little evidence of preparations as we passed through towns except for Meredosia on the banks of the Illinois River where they were in the final preparations and in the centre of Springfield itself. Nothing was actually under way at that stage. The one thing I saw plenty of was men out cutting their lawns and broad roadside edges.
At the moment, there are plenty of fireworks and crackers going off. It reminds me of Diwali being celebrated up in Shilong.
After 46 miles we crossed the broad Illinois River. Evidently, it didn’t have the same flooding problems as the Mississippi. Mighty barges were moored there ready to transport wheat downstream hen needed.
Illinois is all corn and soya. I believe the University of Illinois is one of the best for cereal research … has plenty to work on anyhow. We did pass some research stations of the University along the way. Corn is at an advanced stage now even though there was a big worry about sowing earlier because of the rains. For many straight miles it was corn, corn, corn on both sides and into the distance.
14 miles out on the road we arrived at the town of Liberty (Pop 600) and paused for a photo. The Irish word for liberty or freedom is saoirse and I just had to pause as I was cycling for Saoirse today. Maybe some day she will pass through here. On a trans-continental cycle perhaps? Already at 9 months she has been out on a bike a number of times and recognises bumpy terrain (baby rolling hills) and headwind.
On this side of the Mississippi there is almost a European feel about some parts of towns and landscape. Small churches like the Lutheran one in Liberty is a case in point. Roads tend to be less straight and more interesting as a result. At the start of today’s ride trees offered shade from the warming sun.
Springfield is the capital of Illinois (12 million people) and the capitol is an impressive building as is the Court House along Monroe Street. Quite a few older examples of architecture were visible. Because of the punctures time was moving on and didn’t have time to move around the centre of town for a period. Abraham Lincoln lived here for 24 years before becoming President in 1860. He was assassinated in 1866 and is buried 2 miles north of town with his wife and three of his children. 
WE finally arrived at the Motel at 4 pm, took photos with high fives and off to the roomsAnother century and a day of level cycling for a change.Kept thinking it was Sunday all day today. A colourful day but its back to the ‘black-and-white’ tomorrow.. Still, I’m looking forward to it.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
Heard Today: As we passed through Springfield, we were spotted by two kids playing near the roadside. The saw us approach with the cape flying
Kid 1: Hey, look, that guy looks like Superman.
Kid 2: It is Superman.
