Monday, May 21, 2001 : Neshkoro to Ripon
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Stats
Weather: SE/W 0-15 55-60 Rain
ET: 4:00:00
DST: 39.0 miles
AVG: 15.0 MPH
RT: 2:40:00
MAX: 30.0 MPH
Cities traveled through: Neshkoro, Princeton, Ripon
Remarks
Today it wasn't a flat tire or pain that slowed me down. Today rain invaded the area coupled with cold weather which made it almost impossible to bike especially since I didn't have a rain coat with me. I checked for one at several places, but was unsuccessful. Initially I tried to find a place to stay in Princeton, but both Bed and Breakfast places were over $70, plus I just like the security of a motel a lot better. I went down the road because there was supposedly another hotel there. When I got there there was a big sign on the door saying, "No Vacancy." I thought this was a little weird being this was a Monday morning and nothing was going on. I even talked to a couple people in Princeton and they both thought I would have no problem staying there. So, I just decided to continue on a little further despite how cold I was. Eventually I showed up at the Sandman Inn in Ripon soaking wet and cold. I needed some bike tubes desperately as I had no idea how much longer the patched tube would last. Thinking I had no other choice, I called the taxicab number in Ripton to see if they could take me to Berlin, WI to get a tube and come back here. Berlin was the nearest place that I knew of that would carry such a tube. Unfortunately this was going to cost approximately $50 to go there and back. I was willing to pay this though if it could give me the peace of mind of knowing I had some extra tubes. Standing in the rain trying to repair a tube by patching it is next to impossible. When the taxi arrived I told him why I wanted to go to Berlin and then he suggested this place in town here. I really didn't think they would have that type of tube as the only places I have seen it at are specialty bike shops or Scheels. They actually had the tube here in town. I bought all three the guy had and only had to pay $2.50 instead of $50 to the taxi driver. So, this was a nice end to the otherwise disappointing day.
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