Ride Day 5 - Sunday, October 11

Ride day 5 took us from Louisville to Rough River, Ky., by way of Southern Indiana, the 5th state to be visited on the Tour de Kentucky. 3 states remaining! (Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee.) Before departing Louisville to resume our long ride West, we had a very special time at the church all four of us attend in Louisville, the Highland Vineyard. We actually brought our bicycles into the church during the service, and the entire congregation prayed for our safety as we continue our travels with our dream of a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.

We crossed the Ohio River into Indiana via the 2nd Street bridge in downtown Louisville. After stopping for an early light lunch at Buckhead's Bar and Grill in Jeffersonville, Today's ride included the last of our really challenging climbs, through the "knobs" of Southern Indiana. These climbs are not nearly as steep as those we encounter in Eastern Kentucky, but are still challenging. "Blunk Knob", the toughest climb of the day, is 9.5% in average gradient, but the real challenge is the length of this climb:1.01 miles! At that percent gradient, a mile is a long way! Total ascent for this one climb is 503 feet. On a hill that long, my only choice at my current fitness level is to gear down, go slow, and hope and pray my lungs and legs will outlast the hill! I am pleased to report there was no "Walk of Shame" to confess! When I finally got to the top of this long hill, I felt both literally and figuratively "on top of the world"!

After the knobs subsided into more gentle rolling hills, we crossed back over the Ohio River into Kentucky at Brandenburg. Normally, bridges over rivers as large as Ohio involve an ascent and decent, but this bridge is uphill all the way! Apparently, Indiana is lower in elevation than is Kentucky at this point on the Ohio River. Watch for the pictures from yesterday's ride coming soon! Sarah, our amazing photographer, is a true pro. She requires a little time to process the digital photos she takes daily, but the wait is well worth it!