DAY 38 of 54: JULY 8: CRAWSFORDSVILLE (IN) TO INDIANAPOLIS (IN)

Time Zone : Eastern (GMT -5)
Todays Distance: 62 miles
Cycling time: 3 hrs 56 mins
Average Speed: 16 mph

Today’s cumulative ascent: 1111 ft

Average Heart rate: 121 bpm

Distance so far: 2759 miles

Ascent so far: 88,929 ft.
Centuries so far: 8
Punctures so far: 7
Today’s Profile:

Today’s Route:
Dedication: Today’s cycle is for the complete team at Providence – teachers, children including Ritina, Shanky, Banri ,Mutok and Wanindus and students and teachers from Ireland.




The train is back on the tracks. Yesterday afternoon as it turned out a good number of the cyclists waited and waited an succeeded in completing the 62 miles from Crawfordsville to Indianapolis. As evening went on I felt more and more disappointed in myself in that I had not held out. But I had made the decision in good faith and in the interests of safety.
After dinner a cyclist approached me and enquired if I would be interested in doing the cycle today and that there was a chance of a van lift back to Crawfordsville and that the forecast was favourable. I jumped at the opportunity and kept my fingers crossed that the lift would materialise. The staff here at the Staybridge Suites could not have been more helpful. Finally arrangements were in place for the transfer back to Crawfordsville for 4 of us in order to recapture the lost day. There could not have been a happier man going to bed last night. The train was definitely back on the tracks. I would have hated to miss out on a day. The children of Providence deserve better. Above all, I don’t want to let them down. So George (CO), Larry (CO), Rick (VA) and self were set for breakfast at 6 am and loading at 7 am.
PS The ‘puncture’ that I thought I had when the bike arrived yesterday turned out to be a valve that was’nt tightened properly. So, it doesn’t technically count as a puncture. So, still at 7.
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At 7 am we loaded the bikes onto the van (not the usual loading) and clambered into the back for the hour’s transfer back to Crawfordsville. Seating for three of us was on the floor but the prospect of recapturing the lost day made nothing of the discomfort.
We moved westwards while the morning was still dry though dark. Radar pictures on the TV were favourable and a West or South West wind was predicted. Within an hour we were back at the hotel in Crawfordsville to pick up where we left off. $20 each was all the transfer cost us

The weather was favourable with a light ind coming in over our shoulder. At least we were not heading into a gale. We set out from Holiday Inn on N Lafayette Road at 8 am and settled into a steady pace. The other three were stronger riders than I but stated that they would keep the pace easy. I normally take about 10 miles to warm up but they were quicker off the mark. Within 2 miles as we moved up an incline into downtown Crawfordsville I reckoned that I’d only be able for about half of the route at this pace. But they nursed me through; I wasn’t ambling along at a snails pace. On the level we moved at 17 or 18 mph. Not a bad rate of progress. Gradually I settled in.
After 14 miles the Welcome sign caught my eye…New Ross. It was a small place with a population of 329 and a large grain facility. It was still early with very few about and I didn’t stop to make further enquiries. It was established in 1836 (before a lot of the Irish came) so it may have no connection with Wexford. Officially 6% of the popu;ation claim Irish ancestry.

Most of today’s route was on Rt 136 but occasionally it moved onto quieter roads. Corn was still the predominant crop on either side. We were conscious of the possibility of thunderstorms coming at us from the rear so constant progress was important. Roadworks were present but with a bike there as no need to make long detours. A pleasant request and we could circumvrnt the obstruction on foot. We were keeping within our target.
After 42 miles our route took us straight into Eagle Creek Park. Uncharacteristically we were ripped off here with an entrance fee of $5 to cycle through 2.75 miles of the park. The roads were nice and quiet but you’d need to be spending the day here to justify that fee

Before we came into Indianapolis we turned down Georgetown Road to the Speedway (or the Brickyard as it is also referred to as). The Indianapolis Speedway covers an enormous area. We cycled almost a mile behind the stands to come to the visitors entrance. It has a capacity for 250,000 seated around the outside of the track on permanent seating and the total (outfield and infield) is 400,000. The track is what might be described as a ‘rectangular oval’ 2.5 miles in length with banking of 9 degrees at the corners. As is pointed out in the museum, the infield area could accommodate Vatican City, the Coliseum, Wimbledon, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl and Churchill Downs Racetrack all at once. It is the home of the Indy 500, the Indianapolis 500 Mile Race, the largest single-day sporting event in the world. There was a queue at the entrance so we reckoned that it would be better to move on. The outside itself told a story and indicated the dimensions.

Our next port of call along the route was the Major Taylor Velodrome. A banked cycling track opened in 1982 and named in honour of ‘Major’ Taylor, the first black World Champion at any sport in 1899. A native of Indiana, tracks banned him, other cyclists refused to compete against him and he was forced to perform abroad. Teams ere practicing as we arrived there and after our warm-up of 56 miles, we didn’t want to embarrass them!
At this stage we were in the greater Indianapolis area. It is the capital of Indiana with a population of almost 2 million. It hosts a lot of sporting events and from this motel room three major sporting arenas are to be seen – Lucs Oil Stadium, RCA dome and the Victory Field. We came into the central part along the White River Parkway and then the White River Trail which passes by the Zoo and the Indiana State Museum.
Before 12 noon we (L to R Larry, George, self and Rick) pulled up in front of the Motel and felt doubly satisfied. We had rescued yesterday and had completed the 62 miles in under 4 hours. For me that was good. The others could have done it faster. To gratify myself. I looked on the situation that I was the team-leader and that they were obliged to cosset me against all attacks. That’s my story anyhow!
SATISFACTION
You have no idea how happy I was with the fact that yesterday had been recovered. I want to do the full trip for Providence. I didn’t actually lose out on a Rest Day. Yesterday was my rest day. And being back at noon meant that I could get things done. A load of washing yesterday and another today.
On Rest Days we arrange our own meals and I had dinner in The Old Spaghetti Factory, a family owned restaurant since 1969 in what looks like what used to be a warehouse. Beautiful décor. For those who may be interested, I started with a crisp green salad with croutons and blue cheese sauce. For main course I had strips of marinated chicken breast with marinara and Alfredo sauces over penne pasta topped with shredded Romano cheese complete with a half carafe of Chianti wine. And the lot sweetened with spumoni ice-cream for desert.

I liked it and I finished the lot. And all for just $20 ( Euro 14). My waiter was JJ. I had to ask him if he was James Joseph or John Joseph. No. He was Juan Jesus.
Cladagh
On the way back to the motel I spotted I had to drop in to the Claddagh Irish Pub to savour the atmosphere. It was genuine and owned by Pat McDonagh of Galway who owns Supermacs. Had one enjoyable Guinness there and a most interesting conversation.

It was a great day. What seemed like disaster yesterday was saved with a crisp cycle in good company and I got a feel for downtown Indianapolis. The train is back on the tracks again.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.