June 18 Day 33

Today was our last century of the trip...101 miles and number nine for me on the trip. It was also a four-H day...hot, humid, very hilly, and hazy. This was one of those amazing summer days where it is very still early in the morning and there is ground fog in the low valleys and a hazy sky. An hour down the road I was dripping wet from sweat...and it was not even hot! We also encountered clouds of gnats, occasionally ingesting them and getting covered on your arms and face. But the day was memorable going down country roads and checking out the old farms. This was also in the Amish country, so saw some primitive farm houses and farm operations. I didn't sense folks were as friendly on these back roads as most places had big barking dogs, and some even chased us.

Since this was forecast to be a very hot sultry day, with lots of hill climbing, a group of eight of us formed up and rode hard to finish early. We only had two stops over the 101 miles. At the second SAG, we had 25 miles to go and lots of steep hills, so the consensus seemed to be "let's race". It was fun, but hard, and we all arrived dripping wet. I was sixth of the eight...not bad for one of the older guys. We got in just after 1:00 and it was 90 deg. People were arriving at 3:00 and 4:00 when it was really hot, and they looked absolutely wilted. I'm glad I wasn't out on the road any longer baking in the sun! Terry was afraid he was going to melt down on the road, but found and river and went for a 20 minute swim with Tom H...hat got him through the afternoon.

Tomorrow the ride should be a little easier as we go 92 miles to Niles, OH, another Amish community.

Stats: 101 miles, century number 9, 17.3 mph avg, 2900' climbing, 0 - 10 mph tail winds, temps 70 - 90 deg.