Since we are having to load up the bikes to shuttle in the morning to Wickliffe to begin the day 8 ride, the riders have opted to end their day at the last Rest Stop 13 miles outside of Sikeston. Since leaving lunch, the riders have faced a brutal headwind, which is adding substantially to their effort and their saddle time. With sore rear ends after 7 days of riding, I can’t blame them.
Once everyone had crossed the bridges into Missouri, a new rider joined the group. David Kimura, our TdK photographer, decided to try his hand at riding after having not ridden in 15 years. He borrowed an extra bike, helmet and gloves and took off after the pace line.
The amazing thing is that he actually finished the leg! Even with what some were calling the worst headwind, Dave managed to draft off the Piepmeyer’s and bring it home strong.
We are packing up the bikes and loading up for our shuttle to Sikeston. After showers, it’s off to Lambert’s for some good old fashioned pigging out!
Team TdK has pulled into Wickliffe, Ky. for the scheduled lunch stop after a 27 mile leg from Paducah. That puts 53 miles under the rider’s belts today, and leaves us only 4 miles from Illinois.
Once we depart lunch, we use US51/60/62 to cross the mighty Ohio River into Cairo, IL. After a right turn at the end of the bridge, we ride for about ¾ of a mile and cross the even more mighty Mississippi River into Missouri. This will be states 6 and 7 of this year’s Tour de Kentucky.
After the bridge crossing, the team rolls through the flattest part of the entire trip. Everyone is looking forward to a light lunch, a smooth ride to Sikeston, and a huge feast at Lamberts tonight!
We have arrived in Paducah, Ky. at the day’s first rest stop. The riders stayed in one group for the 26 miles, with one important exception. The weather for the first leg was nice: sunny and warm with a nice breeze. It’s about time we had a warm morning!
The riders are mostly feeling as good as could be expected after the long day yesterday, with the main complaint being saddle soreness and tired legs.
Along the way the Piepmeyer’s were cruising on their tandem bike, and were stopped by a news reporter for an interview. We love publicity for MS and the TdK! This unscheduled stop put Bill and Steven behind a little, so they caught a ride with the van for the rest of the leg.
On arrival at the first rest stop (Paducah Athletic Club), Phil Patterson took the opportunity to make a publicity tour of the facility, handing out cards and telling everyone what we are out doing. Phil is an awesome ambassador for MS.
The next leg moves the team to Wickliffe, KY and lunch.
In 2007, on day 8 of the inaugural Tour de Kentucky, we rode through Missouri to a little town called Dorena, and then crossed the Mississippi River into Hickman, Ky. via the Dorena-Hickman Ferry boat. In the middle of a light riding, but celebratory day, it was a chance to relax and take a ferry ride- something many of us had never done.
Since that was a highlight last year, we made sure to include it in the 2008 route as well. Well, the Gods had other plans and called an audible. Due to the high water that plagued the Mississippi River valley this Spring and high gas prices, the ferry is not operating while the State governments work out a funding plan.
So the plans for Day 8 of TdK 2008 have to be altered. There is only one bridge crossing the Mississippi River in the area we are in, and that’s the bridge we take later from Wickliffe, Ky. into Cairo, Il. With the overnight tonight in Sikeston, Mo., riding back to that bridge and then south to Union City, Tn. is not feasible- 80+ miles on the Sunday of TdK gets us back to Louisville too late for many of us that have to work Monday. We have decided the best option is to shuttle the team and equipment in the morning from Sikeston, Mo. back across the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers to Wickliffe, Ky., where we will begin a 45 mile ride south to Union City.
To make sure the roads we are planning to use really exist (while GPS technology is wonderful, the maps are out of date by the time they get published and distributed) and are suitable for bicycles, we have sent a team out today (Brad Handel and myself) to scout the proposed new route for tomorrow.
The riders have departed for Sikeston, Mo. under awesome weather- best of any morning yet! Sunshine shining bright and temperatures in the 60’s. Ought to be a great day for riding!
Day 7 is the last long ride day of TdK 2008. At 84 miles, it may not seem like much for these riders, but any ride may feel long the day after 128 miles in the saddle!
The nice thing about today's ride is that the terrain flattens even further. We start northwest towards Paducah before turning west to Wickliffe, KY on the Ohio River for lunch.
A few miles after lunch, we cross the Mighty Ohio for the 5th time into Illinois (State #6). After a left turn and about 1/2 mile, we cross over the Mississippi River into Missouri (State #7). While it's always pretty cool to cross a bridge like that on a bicycle, the really aweosme part of this ride is that you can see the confluence of two massive rivers into one from both bridges!
Once we hit Missouri, it will be pedal to the metal for the last 30 miles, as Missouri is FLAT. Not flatter than Eastern Kentucky, or flatter than Day 5- just plain FLAT! The reward for a fast finish is dinner at Lamberts- Home of the Throwed Roll and winner of The Travel Channel's #1 Place in America to PIG OUT! It will be a fun way to celebrate the last long ride of TdK.
