Friday, May 25, 2001: East Chicago to South Bend, IN
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Stats
Weather: NE Winds 0-15 50-60 Rain Headwinds and Tailwinds
ET: 8:00:00
DST: 80.28 miles
AVG: 13.8 MPH
RT: 5:48:20
MAX: 30 MPH
Cities traveled through: East Chicago, Gary, Porter, Michigan City, New Buffalo, MI, Three Oakes, Galien, New Carlisle, IN, South Bend
Remarks
I didn't leave until later again today and I was watching the Weather Channel hoping a band of rain would pass and the temperature to warm up. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would run into FIVE straight days of cold, wet weather, but that's just what's happening. I finally left around 9:30. I made it down the road to Gary where I stood under an abandoned gas station canopy to escape the rain which began to fall once again. Then I made it down the road about another 10 or 15 miles to discover I had yet another flat tire. As I attempted to change the tire the rain decided to come down again. This time it was accompanied by a few claps of thunder. I don't know what it is with my tires but it always takes me forever to try to figure out how to change those things and make sure they fit on there the way they are supposed to. I think I stood there for about half an hour or forty-five minutes until I changed it. I even put in a tire lining this time to help prevent flats. However, it still went flat again about another thirty miles down the road. This time I was able to bike to a gas station where I had to pay 50 cents for air. There must have been something in on the lining that gave it another flat. After changing the tire I headed down the road again. Just as I got on the outskirts of South Bend the clouds invaded the sky and the rain fell again. Then the temperature dropped to 50. Even though it was only five in the afternoon I figured it was time to find a hotel. I'm always nervous they'll fill up on the weekend. Although there were many stretches I had to ride on gravel due to inadequate shoulder it was a bit better than the past few days. I hope the weather improves soon or progress will continue to be slow.
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