Day 15 Marshfield to Houston A Really Really Good Day

67.21 miles, 5:11 hours, 12.95 average.

We awoke at 5:30 in order to make the drive back to Marshfield and get an early start for our anticipated 67 mile day. We unloaded the bikes off the car and ran into Walmart for a few supplies, then on the road by 7:15. The big orange rising sun was in our eyes, almost making us miss a turn which could have made for a longer day. The mist on the fields and in the valleys was beautiful this relatively cool early morning. The ride to Hartville 30 miles away had only moderate hills, and as the day wore on the tall trees along a good part of the road provided welcome shade.





We stopped at a cafe in Hartville and split a delicious cinnamon roll, then by 10:00 were off again. Old, abandoned and occupied homes and barns of stone and wood offered great sights, as well as rolling green hills. Birdsongs filled the air. The next leg of 19 miles to Bendavis were a bit harder, but still pretty and lots of fun on the roller coaster hills. The clerk at the convenience-food and feed-store in Bendavis, population 7, said he has seen about 400 cyclists this summer, but the numbers are getting low as the cycling season winds down. In 1976 when Adventure Cycling offered a Centennial coast to coast tour, their guest book noted about 10,000 cyclists!

The last 18 miles were moderate, but the heat and miles were tiring us. Still, we arrived at our motel in Houston by 2:15 in plenty of time to relax and get caught up on our blogs. A great steak dinner with Helen's brownies for dessert ended the day.


We have gone 796 miles so far, more that 1/3 of the anticipated total, and probably about 1/3 of the total days. Tomorrow we look forward to a short day to Alley Springs, about 37 miles, but will try to get on the road by 7 to take advantage of the early morning cooler temperatures, arriving early in the day to enjoy the area.