Slept well and warm. Really did not want to get out of my warm bed. It was dang cold this morn. Left at 6:45. Waited just a bit til the sun came up.

First six miles on the interstate was the worst ever. Remember the suicide shoulder I mentioned yesterday. Oh, my gosh. Just add lots of sand and gravel in my 12 inches. It was really hard riding. Add the truck wind, and it was treacherous. But we survived. It was pretty flat and winding like the campgrounds lady said. Later I had to get back on again for a three mile and later a four mile stretch. We were out in the flats, and I had a 10 ft wide shoulder with rumble strips right next to the white line. Clean and awesome. It was like I had my own lane. Never seen one like that before either.

Beautiful scenery and very nice frontage roads. Better than some highways I’ve been on. The last 10 miles were a slight uphill grade with headwinds. I guess I’m glad they waited til the end. Really tiring.

So, the weather forecast is for 2-3 inches of rain and a flood watch. I have 68 miles to go tomorrow and really am feeling like I need a day off. I lucked out getting a room but not for tomorrow. I happen to be in the town having its 100th year rodeo. Bummer. The only reason I got this room was someone canceled. So. I asked to be put on the cancellation list for tomorrow and guess what. Someone just canceled, and I get a day off in my motel room. So happy. I really am starting to feel tired, plus my butt needs a rest. It may not start raining til noon, but I don’t think I can ride the rolling hills and get there before noon, especially if the forecasted winds appear.

It’s such a beautiful day today. Hard to imagine it’s gonna turn that ugly.