Day 28: To the Indiana Border (Sun Jun 22nd)

I left the motel at 8am. The ride across Springfield was bland enough, perhaps it was just the route I was taking. On the edge of town 2 dogs made a run at me. I was off the bike in a flash, a triple pike and I nailed the landing!! Then I noticed the dogs were behind a mesh wire fence so I goaded them like Clint eastwood, Thats right, punk. then I mounted up like John Wayne and rode West.
It was a nice morning, no breeze, easy cycling. Outside Donnellsville the road was closed but I pushed on and got the bike around a trench that had been dug across the road. Further on I passed through a town with the curious name of Phoneton.

at Vandelia I passed by Dayton international airport where the Wright brothers made their first flight. I had lunch under a tree at Englewood in 30c & watched the local fire crew work on their ire engine. After Englewood I found the going tough. The headwinds blew up again and my energy levels sank. Just outside Lewisburg I stopped for a cold drink & a bar. I actually staggered into the shop. I chatted with the owner while I drank. He was from Bombay & ran two businesses in the area. He was happy to chat about India but hadn't been home for a few years.


I found out Richmond was 14 miles down the road which, to be honest, felt like a long way away. I struggled for a few more miles & then noticed dark clouds, low on the horizon coming out of Indiana. 30 mins later the clouds were building up and, again, I forgot how tired I was as I upped the effort in a race to Richmond. To be honest I felt I would be beaten this time. I passed by an old guy out mowing his lawn who pointed at the clouds. I nodded. He pointed again. This time I shrugged and kept moving. What the feck was I supposed to do? go home?

I really started to push as It was completely open where I was. Then, in the distance, I saw traffic lights so I hoped there might be a petrol station or shop where I could get shelter. Pushing hard down the road a motel suddenly appeared on the left and with a good rate I was happy to stay. It turned out I was only 1.5 miles from Richmond. (actually the storm wasn't big at all, but they got it big furter down the road.)