Day 36 - The run around the driveway.

Last night was our last sleep for a while in a real bed, and we were even generously greeted with Starbucks coffee from Kathy at breakfast. Oh the small but oh so significant gestures and pleasures we find on this trip. Rumor had it that the former Big Rider Larry was setting up a second breakfast twenty miles into the route today, and I swear that those twenty miles were collectively the fastest twenty miles yet because everyone was there. This was after a ridiculous yet quite funny four mile loop through downtown Valparaiso, by following the cue sheet, that took us exactly right back to the dorms we just left. When we got to Larry’s waterstop, it was so fantastic. He had dozens of home-baked pastries, lots of fruit and cookies, chips, milk and coffee. It was so generous. Off again, we rode in a large group until we reached an unexpected second waterstop hosted once again by the Lambert family. Again, lots of fruit, cookies, drinks, and other such goodies. The Lamberts freaking rock.

It was a long day mileage-wise, the longest yet at approximately 116 miles. Who would have thought that I could bike so far? It was a good ride today, and I rode mostly as a small group with Kari, Alison and Sean, but also for a while with Jody as well. We just went and went and went, which is precisely what I needed. We didn’t take long breaks today, but I thoroughly enjoyed the riding today. The landscape was some of the flattest we’ve had, which is so nice for a long mileager, and we rode through a lot of Amish country. It was just fun to ride through this area, waving to families in horse and buggies, observing an area with such a drastically different and simple lifestyle. Kathy told me that above a building in one of the towns off of our route there was a sign that read, “Living in the past lane.” It’s so amazing that such a lifestyle can exist and still thrive in this society, and so cool.

The final stretch into Kendalville did seem a little like it would never come, but on the other hand, I felt pretty good. It’s a good feel having done so many miles, and knowing that if I had to do twenty more I would have been capable. Allison grew up with seven brothers and sisters, and she told us that when they were little and weren’t ready for bed, her mother would send them outside to run around their circle driveway until they got all of their energy out. We decided that that final stretch was just the run around the driveway for us, in case we hadn’t gotten all of our energy out yet.

Dinner tonight was fantastic, and it consisted of build your own sandwiches, fruit, and fresh sweet corn grilled to perfection by Bob Dumke. It was one of the best meals honestly that I’d had so far. Whole wheat bread, hummus, loads of veggies, and all fresh and purchased in the amish community at stands along the way by Pollie. What a way to go. We’re sleeping at a cozy little campground tonight with nice grassy areas, though we all rolled in so late and lost an hour today due to time zone change that we all came to bed pretty immediately after dinner. I doubt anyone will have trouble sleeping tonight.