Monday - Hit the Road, Jack.

Good Morning, Good Afternoon or Good Night Blog Fans we've had a bit of an eventfull day so I'll try to fit everything in the short amount of time I've got to type this..

We were up bright and early and on the road by 6 (we'd already put our clocks forward before we hit the state (and date) line so we didnt lose an hours cycling in the middle of the day so it was actually 5am leaving Watseka to go to our first stop - Wolcott. We passed through Kentland, IN which we were supposed to make it to last night but the idiot gas station worker told us there was no campsites or motels only to find a there were a few motels we could have tayed in, git. We arrived for breakfast (after 35 miles) in good time at the Wolcott Theatre Cafe where we were questioned about our ride by the owners who then went on to buy us breakfast which was very much appreciated, cheers guys if you are joing the blog fan fraternity.

We pushed on after stocking up on cereal bars in the BP garage opposite the cafe and rode a further 35 miles ish towards Logansport, IN. We stopped in Monticello on the way through for a photo oppotunity on a massive chair at the side of the road and took the opportunity to get some fruit and an inner tube for Ben 'Punctures' Tremlett.

This proved to be a wise option for the reigning punture league participant as no more than 2 miles out of Monticello he went and got yet another puncture to take him onto 11 punctures. A truly outstanding example of foresight and how not to avoid roadside debris while touring across the states. You'd think by this point Tom and Jack were in no doubt who wears the cycling breakdown trousers in our ultra endurance charity hareem, but no. Unhappy with his current tally less than half a mile later he asserted his aplha-puncture dominance on the rest of the group by severing the new inner tube he'd bought less than 20 minutes earlier, a truly cowering display of puncturing skill. However it should be known that blame for this one was left at Jacks feet as Jack forgot to remove the debris (a staple) from the tyre from the previous incident. Should this puncture point be given to Ben or Jack or maybe half each - leave your comments blog fans.

So after this we soldiered on in good time (about 16mph) to Logansport where there we no bike shops for Ben to stock up on Ammo but there was some places to eat and we chose Arby's where they swap burgers for Roast Ham in a bun with fries and a drink. An intersting cusine model. We got going again after 45 minutes of discussing different slogans we could put shirts for our new t-shirts business such as "What Would Moo Do?" We have to get creative with conversation, some other previous ways to pass the time have included what fancy dress themes our funerals would be, such as hawiian, replacing the organ in the chapel of rest with a calypo band.

We cycled about 6 miles out of Logan sport when we met a more serious concern. While cycling along, (ludicrously) keeping his eyes on the road Jack cycled straight into a large road coloured rock which was in the hard shoulder. He came straight off and over the bike with Tom following into the back of him and commando rolling over the wreck in front of him. Jack lay on the ground with his arms over his face and groaned in pain while Ben caught up and Tom brushed himself off and pulled Jacks bike from the ground to asses the damage of the bike and then Jack. The bikes front wheel was bent and the rear mudguard and pannier rack were also bent. Jacks knee was bleeding and swelling up and his hands and arms were grazed. Jack laid on the ground while Ben and Tom attempted to sort the bike out but it was apparent we could be in trouble. Jack tended his own wounds as a Coca-Cola rep stopped and asked if we needed a medic, Jack gave the standard british answer "Im alright mate cheers" and after giving him all of the details of our ride so far he left. 5 minutes later a guy pulls over and jumps out of his red SUV and claimed "boys its your lucky day" which sounded ominous. The guy was a local rider and let us know he knew a good bike shop in the next town (which we would never have found) and went bike home to get his bike rack for his car to take Jack there while Ben and Tom rode there. The town is called Peru. We got to the bike shop where we stayed for about 1.5 hours while Jack had his fron tyre bent bike into line (trued to you bikers) and Ben finally got new tyres and even more ammo. Tom had yet more broken spokes repaired in the rear wheel which earned him the new nickname 'Spokie'. Cheers to everyone at Break Away bike shop for their help and adding the names Tom Powell, Ben Tremlett and Jack Lloyd to the '2000 Mile Club' on their wall. When we hit New York we'll be ringing so you can stick us on the 3000 mile club.

With Jacks knee bent and most of the day gone we went to a local motel to call an end to the day at just over 80 miles. Delivered pizza, a bath and an early night. Big miles tomorrow blog fans.

Until next time.

Tom.