Wednesday, May 23, 2001: Huntley to Elgin, IL
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Stats
Wind/Temp: SW 5-25+ 50-55
ET: 8:00:00
DST: 28.53 miles
AVG: 10.1 MPH
RT: 2:49:18
MAX: 27.9 MPH
Cities traveled through: Huntley, Starks, Udina, Elgin
Remarks
I woke up around 5 hoping to get a good start but was discouraged when I noticed it raining outside and the Weather Channel forcasting rain not only all day but all week. So, I waited all the way until 11 AM to leave. I made it about nine miles south to Huntley where I stopped to eat at a McDonalds and hopefully avoid the rain that looked to be coming my direction. The clouds to the northwest looked extremely dark and there were a few lightning strikes. I didn't want to get caught in a storm at all. Finally I left the McDonalds and only made it about two miles down the road where I had to take shelter at a gas station as it decided to rain again. I left that gas station only to go about another two miles down the road to another one and waited the rain out once again. At this point I figured it was virtually pointless to try to make it very far today so decided to just bike over to Elgin which was a little further east than I wanted to go, but I just wanted to find a place to stay. As I went that direction the rain started to pour and I had no where to go so I just kept on riding. As I have experienced for basically all the trip, the road I was on had no real shoulder, so I was forced to ride in the grass and the sharp gravel. About five miles from Elgin my tire went flat again (this time the front), so half the time I was forced to walk my bike. Eventually I found a gas station, fixed my tire and had to bike about five miles out of my way to find a motel. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
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