Yesterday was a copy of the day before as far as the weather was concerned, only even HOTTER, and just as windy. Unfortunately, we didn't get started by 7 a.m. as we had hoped, it was about 7:45. We still got to Fostoria, OH by 2:45, but it was about 2 hours later than we would have liked. They're having record-breaking high temperatures here. The highs have been in the low 90's the past three days, and that is way too hot to be biking - especially with a strong head wind and high humidity. We had a great ride in the morning - nice road, almost no traffic, and level or a slight downhill for the most part. Then it started heating up in earnest and the wind got stronger, and I had to hold myself together again for the second day in a row for the last hour or so of the ride. Before we left this morning for this wonderfully named town of Shipshewana, I made a visit to the local hospital emergency room because I had broken out with quite a few ugly red blistery stinging itchy welts on my arms, shoulders, and hands. The doctor who saw me thought they might be bug bites that I had an intense reaction to. Perhaps even - dare I say it - bedbug bites. Or maybe chiggers that bit me while I was sprawled out on the grass on one of our many rest an water stops yesterday. Anyway, now I'm taking Benedryl and using Aloe Vera sunburn gel with Linacane on the welts to control the intching.
Because of the high heat and humidity, and my skin condition, we got a ride today to Shipshewana. Tomorrow it is supposed to cool off by abou 10 degrees, so we should be back on the road again. We're only ten miles from the Michigan border - yeah-h-h-h, no more Ohio! Shipshewana only has 500+ people living here, but it is a huge tourist spot because of the large Amish population and a large flea market (largest east of the Mississippi, they say). MANY horse-drawn wagons here.Went to a cultural center of sorts this afternoon where learned about the three Anabaptist sects (Mennonites, Hutterites,and Amish) through video presentations, a tour guide, and some displays.
Tomorrow we weill join the Adventure Cycling northern tier bicycle route across the country and follow it to Ludington, Michigan (about 240 miles) where we will board a ferry to take us across Lake Michigan to Manitowac, Wisconsin.
Riding on....
Carol & Bill
P.S. I tried to upload some pictrures but the computer seems unable to do it tonight, so I'll have to try again next timel
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