Day 1: Glenwood to Shenandoah

Since I wanted to start the event well rested, my plan was to be in bed by 9:00 pm, get 8 hours of sleep, rise at 5:00, and be on the road by 6:00.

Did OK on being ready to sleep by 9:20, but I laid there in the 84 degree heat / 91 heat index, listening to the crickets, various (unofficial) fireworks, and the kickoff concert. Sleep was intermittent the entire night, and I woke up at 4:52, 6 minutes ahead of the alarm.

Packed up the inside of the tent (sleeping bag, air mattress, clothes, etc.) by 5:30, then went outside and took down the tent. Schlepped my bags over to the transport semi, and rolled past the signboard for the park at 6:23 and 78 degrees.

I had taken my Mile 0 photos yesterday with Josh, so it was enroute with 12,000 other riders - on a two lane road, we'll be up to 6 abreast, with the line stretching as far as the eye can see in both directions.

And Iowa seems to never be flat for more than a mile at a time. Climb anything from a small roller followed by a gentle decent up to a half-mile long grind up with a 35 MPH cannonball down the backside. And that's one of the differences of a recumbent trike: you climb slower since it's all upper leg muscle (you can't use your weight to drop onto the pedals), but you're more aerodynamic so you pass a lot of people on the descent.

I passed through the first host town, Malvern, without stopping as it was only 7:45 in the morning and about 15 miles into the ride. So I pushed on another 11 miles, and stopped in Tabor around 9:05 for breakfast - homemade peach pie, water, and stretches. 

Back on the road about 40 minutes later, the hilly 7 miles to Reynolds passed slowly, but I decided to press on to the end of the day's ride in Shenandoah - 17 miles further. The hills continued pretty much nonstop, and about 45 miles into the ride - and 5 miles short of Shenendoah - I found a big tree at the top of a long, grinding hill, where there was a breeze and shade. 

I stopped and rested up for about a half-hour before continuing into Shenandoah, arriving around 12:35 - 4 hours 45 minutes riding, 51.4 miles covered, in 6 hours 15 minutes elapsed time.

Grabbed my bags, pitched camp, took a shower and a nap, all by 4:45. Some light rain before dinner (pork roast, potatoes, corn, cole slaw, roll and a cookie), and now they have a band until 8:00 or so.

Tomorrow is the day I've worried about the most: longest miles (75+) and most climb (4,000 feet). But the forecast is for cooler (80's vs today's 90's) and less humid, so you hope for the best. 

Time to fill water bottles, repack some bags, and get ready for bed (8:00). Wish me luck; more tomorrow.