Riding4Hope – Day 33, 7/30/09, Owensboro

DAILY REPORT:  Possibly a rainy day. The weatherman was predicting 70% thunderstorms later in the day. Temp was 70 and expected to be in the mid 80’s. Also looks like we might have a slight tailwind today.

Since we weren’t able to stay in Marion last night, Skip was going to drive us back to were we left off yesterday. We had a quick continental breakfast and we loaded up the trailer w/ bikes and gear and had a 25 min drive back to Marion.

The weather looked pretty ominous with some dark clouds on the horizon. The temp was cool which was a nice change but humidity was still high. The roads were wet from the rain last night. Today’s ride was expected to be somewhat easier with a few less hills and the quartering tailwind. We also had to adjust our route slightly. There are no hotels in Whitesville so we have accommodations in Owensboro. We made a couple of road modifications that would effect us after lunch.

The first 40 miles were on back rural roads. It was a very nice ride. While out riding we met a local rider – Bobby. We had a nice conversation. We also met Philip who is biking the TransAmerica route. He is also from WA; Vancouver WA. We had a nice conversation w/ him in town. He is riding a recumbent bike of which we have only seen one other. He started the beginning of Jun and is expected to be in Yorktown the middle of Aug. All the best to both of you.

We had lunch in Sebre. Skip was having some issues with his cell phone (technology and him are like water and oil). Every time he called it sounded like fighting cats in a paper bag. It turns out he was lost again; stating that the GPS unit had moved Sebre 5 miles from it’s current location to some empty field. Oh Skip……

While we were having lunch in the church parking lot; we had a local visitor stop by. Bud wanted to show off his “Chopper” bike. He built it himself. He was nice enough to give James a chance to try out his ride. It was a lot harder than it looks!

We had another 40 mile ride to get us to Owensboro. It was actually a fun ride through the farm lands. We had a nice tailwind. We even had an opportunity to draft behind a tractor. The farmer was having fun with us and ultimately left us in the dust has he zipped over a hill. We stopped in Utica and met MA Bell in JR’s Market. We had stopped for water and ice cream. While talking w/ MA she was concerned with the route we were taking and convinced us to change final route into town. What a nice lady!

It turns out Owensboro is on the Ohio river just south of Indiana. So we thought we would be over achievers and decided to add one more state to our list!  We biked through town crossed the Ohio River and stepped on the Indiana soil. State number ten!!

Megan the manger of the Hampton Inn was nice enough to comp our rooms. Thank you very much for your support of the Riding4Hope Team!!

For dinner we ate at the Texas Roadhouse. The boys rated the restaurant as one of the top three places we have eaten so far. Not bad.

So we really lucked out today and missed all the rain. We had a few sprinkles but that was it. After dinner though the skies let loose and it has been raining since. The weather is supposed continue through tomorrow morning and then clear up. Tomorrow afternoon we will be meeting the youth at the Boys and Girls club at FT Knox. We also will have the good fortune to stay with family; John Scott who has opened his home to us for the next 2 days.

It is John & James birthday tomorrow. If you get a chance please wish them a happy 17th birthday!!

Thanks for joining us…..ride safely and keep the wind to your back!! 

The Riding4Hope Team

www.riding4hope.org

(David, John, James & Skip)

Signing out 7/31/09; 0130

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