Today I was a wimp and let the rain forecast keep me home. We did get a couple of showers, but I also got in some work in our garden, as well as work on other projects on the house. I may do the same tomorrow, too.

I have a hard time making myself take off on a ride in rainy conditions, but in May 2001 I was already committed to a six-day ride. It rained almost every day. One of the professors had asked me to attend a workshop in Champaign, IL. I agreed and said all that was necessary was to buy a bus ticket for me and my bike. I’d take the bus to the meeting and ride home afterwards, taking a few vacation days plus the Memorial Day weekend. Naturally I didn’t ride straight home. There were several history stops along the way.

The day before this photo I had gotten some broken spokes repaired in my rear wheel — again. It was in Lafayette, Indiana. I picked the likliest bike shop in the phone book, and it was an excellent choice. I had been plagued with breaking spokes for a long time — and trips to two different bike shops hadn’t cured it. But in Lafayette I think I happened on one of the few good wheel-builders in the midwest. John Cherry moved me to the head of the queue in his bike shop, and had me on the road in short order. I’ve had no more broken spokes since (though John Cherry did build a new rear wheel for me a few years ago, after the old rim showed signs of cracking).

The day of this photo I was riding from Monticello to Logansport to Peru. I’m somewhere south of the Wabash, nearer to Logansport than Monticello. There were occasional showers during the day, though nothing to compare with the day that followed.