100 miles ridden – 2493 feet climbed

Well first things first – I have done back to back centuries. 111 miles yesterday and 100 miles today. I must admit to feeling pretty pleased with myself although it was a really tough day.

Early load was at 5:50 for a 6am breakfast but we awoke to an impressive light show courtesy of a large thunderstorm that meant our departure was delayed to 7:45. The storm had passed but the ground was wet and the wind strong. As the day wore on the temperature rose to around 30C/86F and humidity to around 85%. That made it hot and with the wind at 15-20mph either straight in our faces or hitting our front left sides it was hard work. I reckon I drank about 6 litres of fluid during the ride and that just made up for sweating.

The landscape varied but because we had to focus so hard on beating the wind and about 20 miles of poor road surface We didn’t do that much looking around.

Like yesterday there were sections (first photo) which could be the UK but also derelict farms like this are common in amongst well kept and seemingly thriving pig and dairy farms.

First SAG was in the town of Waseca which seemed quite picturesque with most houses built around a very large lake but the sky was still menacing so we moved on hastily to try and beat any potential rain. The second SAG was in the town of West Concord. Two fun things happened there. First I went to the Post Office to buy some stamps for letters to the UK -not only did I have to explain what I wanted twice but the chap had to go to the safe for them as they weren’t kept at the counter. Not many folk there mail letters outside of the US! Then I, along with Els from Holland and Martin from Germany, were interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper who had heard on the grapevine that we were coming through and wanted a scoop. It’s nice to be noteworthy.

From the second SAG we had 34 miles to cover and it was a really hard slog starting with about 4 miles straight into the headwind. When we finally arrived in Rochester a) the revised route instructions were incomplete, b) part of the cycle path had been completely removed and the road it led to closed, and c) it was 5PM. I was thrilled to get into my room until I realised that the air conditioning wasn’t working and had to move. I was a very hungry, dehydrated, and grumpy person.

Still tomorrow is another day. Only 88 miles BUT no rain is forecast BUT the temperature is forecast to peak at 36C/97F, BUT the wind should be in our favour. Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic which my Mother visited to seek, and ultimately receive, a treatment regime for her arthritis. It’s quite a place: