The group had a very long day today. They did 80 to 85 miles today and made it into Grafton, IL rather late.

The only other thing I know is they had to take a ferry to cross a river at some point.

Chris did add a day 11 blog. It is pretty good. Nice throwing Katie. Hope you all enjoy it.

We had a decent breakfast at super 8, after sleeping in until almost 8.

We were considering a short 25 mile day to Hannible Missouri.... as a semi-rest day. After finally getting out of Quincy after a several mile disruption (my fault, the hotel I called was not on the route like I thought) we rode through Marblehead Il.

We stopped at Lock & Dam #21? Katie had seen several of them from a distance over the last few days and wanted to see one in action. We had a great view of a barge passing through. Today's cooler weather also seems to have stopped the mayflies.

they rested.

Our group finally treated their bodies to a well deserved day off, so they remain in Barry, IL for another day. Sadly they have no internet, so no posts from them. They may have worked on updating posts with pics and general catch up blogging, then would have saved it all till when they have internet access. So please check back, we may have plenty to see and read in the next day or two, I hope.

Hope everyone is well. Hope your blisters are healing.
Wisconsin weather has been cool the last couple of days. (in Oak Creek any way) Today it is cool and rainy. We will be back up to
80 degrees on Saturday.

Enjoying the blogs and pictures very much. Keep them coming.

PEDAL ON EVERYONE PEDAL ON!!!

Not a whole lot to tell tonight. The group did about 44 miles today and made it to Barry, IL. They sound pretty tired.

I asked Roger when they were planning to give their bodies a rest for a whole day. He said they are talking about taking tomorrow off. I hope they do. I think they could all use a rest day.

They weren't very talkative, so that's about it.. Chris did add some more pics to day 5. Check them out. They look good.

We may be having unusually cool weather in Wisconsin, right now, but the temperature for tomorrow in the St. Louis area will be about 89. They aren't all that far from that area.

We wish then a good R & R day tomorrow.

Just wanted to let Roger know I'm checking the groups staus everyday and cheering you on from here in Iowa. I'm his counterpart here in the Iowa Guard (at least before he retired!) Stay safe and am looking forward to the rest of the trip. (as I sit on my fanny here at work) :-)

Each posting takes me an hour or more, and costs me sleep. Please check the old posts for when I finally get around to adding pictures. Also, don't expect too many posts from the girls. They take their sleep when they can get it.

Let me know if our mileage log gets off. I am doing this in my head as I drift asleep.

Today was our rest day. I pushed the team hard yesterday and promised them a rest day today. We wanted to see some sites in Nauvoo, and maybe ride 12-15 miles to the next town for the night.

It was a real surprise to me to find out from Roger that the group did 60 miles today. I thought they were going to rest and do some site seeing. They did get a late start and did some tourist stuff, but the great forcast called and they couldn't resist.

They had good temps. and a great tail wind and decided not too waste the advantage. So 60 miles later and they are in Quincy, IL tonight.

I can't wait for their posts and to know more about what all they saw. Until then, I wish them some great rest and another day of awesome tail winds.

Our tents got soaked last night. We dried them out the best we could and packed them up. I forgot to close my tent door the evening before during dinner, so it was the worst and needed to be open up this evening in the hotel.

We woke up and had a great tail wind which led us 10 miles till breakfast in Oquawka. Some club riders passed us, they had left an hour early for a century ride which was partially on our route. We couldn't keep up with them. I had to do 24mph to pass them, but couldn't maintain it.

We awoke today well rested, ready for the hills to be behind us. Our route was clear, planned out, and we were ready to finally put up some big numbers. Chuck and I filled our Camelbacks from the ice machine and the group hit the road.

Before leaving Muscatine, we stopped at a really neat store called Harpers Cyclery. Harpers had all of the items we needed. Roger and I needed some socks, Laura needed a water bottle cage, and we had yet to replace the backup tube that I blew on the crack a few days ago.