Day 35 Springfield, IL to Champaign, IL   97 miles and 1593 feet of climb

Back to back centuries (100-mile rides) in hot and humid weather is pretty much what the last two days have been all about. Today's ride to Champaign was mostly flat. I rode to the first SAG at 32 miles with staff mechanic Mark from Colorado. Then I headed out on my own for the final 65 miles. On the scorching days, I tend to spend even less time at the SAG stops because I hate the heat so much that I just want to get back on the bike and ride. The breeze, warm as it maybe when you are riding, can serve to cool you down a little bit. Even in the shade, the SAG stops can be hot and then there are the flies and mosquitoes to contend with this time of year.

At any rate, it was more small towns, farms and soybean and corn fields on today's ride. I arrived at the hotel around 2:15 and promptly went to 5 Guys for some lunch.

This evening after dinner I had a drink with fellow riders Andy and Alan of the British National Cycling Team- Masters Division. We had a pleasant conversation that touched on everything from Brexit, to the current political scene here in the US and most interestingly, their overall impressions of America so far. They were both very impressed by the hospitality shown to them by virtually everyone they'd met in the small cafes and shops they frequent during our ride. Andy also mentioned the ever-present American flags that you see flying in front of homes and businesses here in the heartland and the unabashed patriotism that those flags signify. He said something to the effect that in the UK if you were to fly the Union Jack, you might risk being called a nationalist or a nativist. They also mentioned how interconnected our roads and rail systems are here with big-rig trucks and locomotives hauling goods to every corner of the continent. Also, they were impressed by the massive farming operations that we pass every day when we ride. I thought of the famous quote from President Calvin Coolidge, who said, "The business of America is business."

Tomorrow we ride to Crawfordsville, IN.