Wooster not Worcester, OH

Never quite to know what to expect on any given ride. Sure we look at weather forecast (and the weather service never makes any mistakes), and review the ride route at "Route Rap" each preceding day, but the magic of the day is that you never quite get what you expect.

We've been traveling under threat of rain/T-storms 50%-60 % chance for days now. However, we've been just missing them. Have to admit it must be close to 90% - 100% humidity with temps in the 90's so it's pretty awful. We also expected close to 4,000 feet of climbing with some steeps at 12 - 13% grade. So it was billed as a tough ride.

The temperature prediction was right, the humidity was about right, the steeps were aplenty on the last 16 or so miles of the 98 miles I had logged but the rain stayed away and I had forgotten that we're in pretty good shape from the last 5 weeks of daily rides so although the hills were a challenge, we all got through them like champs.

The unexpected part was the nearly 4 miles of milled road surface which loosened my teeth fillings, sent my seat post to the nether reaches of my insides, and made my calf muscles flap like rags in a wind tunnel. Yes. Surprisingly ugly section of road just before the last 16 miles of climbing.

But like I mentioned, we all got through it like the true champs we've become (modesty is sometimes overrated - I may edit this section out later when I'm not so tired).

On balance another amazing day for everyone.

And of course there was ice cream. And Buckeye Balls. One of the support teams husbands made these chocolate and peanut butter confections for us to welcome us to their home state of Ohio. We had them at the one of the SAG stops today. Great treat.  .  .  Thanks!

We're in the really neat town of Wooster, Ohio. Ate at a local restaurant and had the best meal of tour to date by far. It was real, non-chain, made for individuals food. I had the Italian sausage and Bow Tie pasta with a potato and broccoli soup with a nice glass on Pinot Noire. Others had equally savory dishes. It's actually a place I would go to for a special night out if it were in my hometown.

Sorry for short post tonight. We have another two 90 day rides ahead of us before we get to Erie, PA. Our last rest day before our final week on tour. Time to turn in.

Not a Yelp worthy photo but it was really good food with my favorite friends on tour.