Update

The 600km event went well. Memorial day weekend featured good weather and, remarkably, a tailwind both ways. Saturday, I hooked up with George "El Diablo" Jarad and we worked our way south in good order. I was a little apprehensive at the start because I did not have a motel reservation. But John agreed I could share their room. I made it to Vienna, IL, in good time reaching the end of the Tunnel Hill trail before dark. Sunday went well, but the heat slowed our progress a bit. I finished in 36:30 which was a new best for me.

I wish I could say the same for the 400km this weekend. I thought it would be hot, but hoped that the forecasters would be wrong. No such luck. I crapped out - a total bonk - around mile 120. I knew I had I bonked when I fantasized about walking the bike - always a bad sign. It was so bad that before I reached Pickneyville, I was stopping every mile for a five-minute rest in the shade. I hung around P'ville for an hour before deciding to call it quits. John, with whom I rode my first 400km in 2006 (until he hit a dog and broke his collarbone), noted that it wasn't worth riding if I wasn't having fun. That was all it took. While I waited for my rescue team, I noted that the thermometer on the local bank read "102" That's too hot. I had a good ride until my collapse and averaged 17.5 miles per hour up to mile 120. I feel bad about quitting but it was impossible for me to ride any further. I'll have to see if I can make up a 400km some time this summer.