No, that’s not a song.

Travel the country and see what it has to offer. It is what it is. I am outside Norman, IN staying @ Phil and Allison’s between Brown County and French Lick, I arrived Thurs eve.

Thurs. I bid adieu to Dad and Karen and headed for the above. Going S on I-71 N of Columbus I passed thru several intense rain squalls. May rain fall where it is needed which is all over Ohio.

Phil told me about Versailles SP east of him. Right off hwy 50. I rode the trails, just a needed change from full effort of Mohican. Nicely designed and built machine cut trails. What it lacked for trouble on the ground it made up for turn carving. I am getting better at this turning game. 12 miles of ST.

I finished hearing thunder in the distance. That was enough for the lifeguards @ the pool to kick everyone out and leave. I caught a deserted locker room shower. So hot and humid. My riding clothes were washing machine pre spin wet. The shower was hot that didn’t cool me off but increase my core temp. I left the locker room w/ sweat still rolling off me. But I was clean.

I finished the drive to Phil’s. This is worn hill hilly wooded Indiana. Green trees, tasseled corn, and beans. Little understory in the hardwood forests. Pretty.

Hot and humid night, Phil tried to put me in a bed in an air conditioned room but I held fast to my bed or the hospital.

Friday we jetted out just after 8:00AM to drive N to Brown County park to meet his friend Steve for a ride. Brown County trails rode like a well executed machine cut trails. Purpose built trails flow that I am getting into. The steepness is around 6 to 8%. Not a lot of machine piled pump bumps. 26 miles in 3 hrs 20 mins. Only 2100′. Ride data doesn’t match Mohican’s effort. I was leading w/ Phil on my wheel when I spotted a raccoon on the ground right on the trail’s edge. I jammed on both brakes just avoiding Phil getting to know me better. We watched 3 raccoons climb trees and meander off. You don’t see that during the day. We passed 2 stone chimney remnants of homesteads deep in the woods. There are several well preserved original log houses.

Last night the temp dropped enough to pull my light weight blanket over me.

Today I am in Bloomington for a short errand then back to Phil’s to ride his local MT Nebo trails.

Phil’s house location does not get Verizon cell phone service.

I went to Revolution Bike and Bean bike shop per Phil’s recommendation. I walked in seeking solution to several issues w/ my bike. Bring it in I was told. I was allowed back in the work area to help. Paul correctly torqued the bottom bracket cups (overtightened regardless of torque spec), he even torqued the pinch bolts on the crank arm. My rear wheel wobble was because I was a few degrees of correct tightness, he tightened it just enough. I had a skritch in the front end that he eliminated by cleaning the headset. I will replace it w/ a Chris King. Jimmie has no fear of bike and bean competition.

I will prolly leave Mon AM heading North. I need to figure out how to get to Kettle Morraine in WI and what I can ride between here and there.

Hoosiers and Buckeyes

Today I bid adieu to my Dad and his wife Karen. He is 87. This is the view from his house:

Last night I visited my sister Lynn. She coached my thru painting my finger nails.

Yesterday rain finally fell during several t-storms. I allowed the rain forecast to dissuade me from a shop ride in Mohican again choosing to spend my last night w/ family.

Just hot and humid.

My Dad is curious how I will record my stay. The author of Blue Highways wrote about his relative stays. They were good as mine was, what is hard is to motor away. I enjoyed quality time compressed because the visit was that, not staying and living. As w/ most visits I become part of the hosting group that dilutes my personal time that I need to live my life, as noted by lack of riding and blogging. I was taught to wait to be asked. Karen fed me well, but I waited to be asked instead of my asking. Same w/ Todd and Heather. Hey, what and when are you going to feed me? It’s harder to carve out my personal time. Connecting w/ my past. Recalling history, acknowledging old emotional scars, and enjoying the time spent.

I am back on the road. I am @ a laundromat using the washing machine time to catch up.

Next stop is Indiana to Phil and Allison’s house and Brown County. First I plan on riding Versailles SP. However rain and high heat are forecast.

Short note: I rode Mohican SF again, this time attempting to not ride as hard. It seemed that i put less effort in but the ride time was 3 mins longer in spite of the 92 degrees and high humidity. I like this trail as there are never any long uphills, just about gasping time the trail overs a recovery in a traverse or slight downhill. It is rooty but all rollable. Like it.

I stopped @ a new bike shop in Loudonville, Kim’s bikes. I chatted w/ Kent, Kim’s husband. I was invited on their Wed shop ride which will be another go @ some miles @ Mohican.

Thurs I leave for IN.