Day 26 Marysville to Wooster

We awoke at 5:45 for breakfast at 6. Miracles occurred and both the wake up call and the alarm worked and went at the same time. Breakfast was at the hotel and included the usual as well as cinnamon buns. Yum.

The weather looked a little like yesterday, albeit a little warmer. We set out under cloudy sky's and 12C temperatures. The ride was mostly flat with at times a slight tail wind. We pass through small town America with "towns" every 10 miles or so. Mostly this means a collection of houses, school, church and at times some shops. Many of the churches have sayings on their notice boards.

The many turns needed today meant you had to concentrate. Some legs being only 0.1 miles long. At one point doing in excess of 30mph Jason yells from the back right turn as the front of the group -me- sails blissfully left. Back on track to the first SAG which was set up earlier than posted. This made the next leg to lunch a bit longer. We caught a bunch through a small town just as one of their members raced off down the wrong way. He eventually realised his error and was back by lunch.

Lunch was held at a rest area next to a small dam.

The ride after lunch was through rolling country with little traffic. Some roads were really rough. We saw flood warning signs and we passed fields with retreating water. In some cases the water had just recently backed off the road. All was going well until we were to make a right onto rt1950 when we came up against "road closed" signs and flooded roads. The instructions we have been given were to ring Mike so he could get his fancy gps going to find a detour. Just as I unhooked the phone from Jason's pocket Jim the mechanic pulled up. He quickly ascertained that straight through-right-rght-left would put u back on track. He said to Lasse (the Norwegian) he should wait until he had marked the road. Lasse just took off saying no problem.

However Jim spray painted n arrow on each corner and we easily avoided the flooding and were back on track with less than a mile extra.

Help we can't swim.

Follow the white arrows chaps-you da man JIM.

Some people who caught us just as we waited by the flood went straight through and did not realise they missed a turn. They got lost- surprise surprise. A couple again went straight down the highway- which we went on briefly for the detour. You gotta listen carefully and look out for those darn arrows.

The last road into town Karen had pronounced as HELL road (actually Heyl). She said you would know why when you hit it. It contained a few small pinches. Some were a little bit steep. Great for the legs. Finally into town and the hotel. Another miracle- not only did the room key work but we got two keys each. Who knows why, this is America after all.

Distance today was 104 miles in 5:56.. Forecast for rain tomorrow and a thunderstorm warning.