Ken’s Transcontinental Cycling Tour

   Well, they say things run on a slower pace down south and I guess that includes the internet too! I’ve tried posting several times and it just ain’t workin….Check in tomorrow from the next hotel….Ken

Back on line- here’s the entry I meant to write on Sunday night:

Alabama gets our #1 vote for the smoothest roads we’ve experienced since we left San Diego 22 days ago.  Today’s 149 mile/ 4,600 foot route into Greenville, Alabama yielded some rollers that could be muscled to the top; when the day was done our paceline consisting of myself, Don, Brett, Andrew, Don, Peter, Ned, and Paul averaged 20.0 MPH and most of the time we were riding between 20-30 MPH. 

 
Many of us realized that today was a big psychological gain since it was the last long day with the remaining 4 days consisting of 115 miles or less.  We’re really starting to chat about the end with questions like, “When do you fly out?”, “What do you think it will feel like to ride in a car again?” and “How do you plan to kick the soda habit when you return?”  Speaking of soda, Lon and Susan said that they buy about 50, 2-liter bottles of soda EVERY DAY, resulting in an average of one bottle/person/day!  I’ve had all flavors including Coke, Root Beer, Crème, Ginger ale, and the favorite drink of our team captain, Randy Rusk….Mountain Dew!

 
Thanks to everyone for sending e-mail, cards, notes, and home-baked cookies to riders to share with the group at the end of each day’s ride.  It’s great knowing that lots of people are back home supporting our efforts.