Day 5: Centerville to Ottumwa

Even though today is shorter than yesterday (49 miles as opposed to 65), it was nice yesterday to get a large part of the ride completed before the day heated up.  So I set my alarm for 4:30, but awoke at 4:26 and started breaking camp. I had my wheels pointed toward Ottumwa at 5:45.

My "new" ride strategy is to ride for about 90 minutes or 18 miles before breakfast. So I rode to Moravia, IA, 17.3 miles before stopping for a breakfast bowl and apple juice at 7:15. Back on the road roughly 35 minutes later.

Using the "It's a ride, not a picnic" philosophy, my next stop was in Blakesburg, IA, for a pit stop, rest stop, and fruit smoothie, at 9:15 am, 37.3 miles done for the day after 3 hours and 8 minutes of riding. Back on the bike by 9:40, I departed for Ottumwa.

I have my phone programmed to quack whenever I receive a new text or E-mail, and since my cell coverage thru AT&T has been nearly non-existent since the beginning of the trip, I figured I might have a large number of items waiting for me. Riding a recumbent bike, my phone is in a "fanny" pack, except I wear it in front.

On a hill 3 miles west of Ottumwa, my phone sounded like a gaggle of geese taking flight.

Found the Pork Belly Ventures campsite, grabbed my bags, set up camp, and was sitting in the canopy for shade by 1:15. It was a picture perfect day: winds out of the north-northwest at 20 MPH, temps in the low 80's, and relatively low humidity. I decided to try a walking tour of Ottumwa, so I rode a shuttle into downtown.

The DesMoines River in Ottumwa 

Downtown Ottumwa looks a lot like downtown Aurora, or any other "big" city that was emptied when the suburban malls came calling, and is finally rebounding. I had almost no dairy products this week, so I fixed that with a pint of 2% milk... and a raspberry shake. Bought some new AAA batteries for my camp head light, and went back to camp. Sent a few E-mails and worked on yesterday's blog.

Then it was time for dinner and get he tent / bike ready for tomorrow - another long day of 68.5 miles but "only" 2,400 feet of climb enroute toward Washington, IA. Called home, finished my chores, and was in bed by 8:45.

How will I feel after three consecutive days of riding significant distances? I won't know until tomorrow.