Day 20 Quincy to Springfield (101 miles)

Really really tired last night, very glad it's the rest day tomorrow. Like I said before, getting this done is all about sticking to a routine, which includes half an hour a night with my bum against the headboard of the bed and my legs sticking up in the air. This is meant to drain all the blood and bad stuff out of your legs so it can be flushed from your body over night. There could be something to it, anyway last night was the first time I didn't do it, just too tired. So this morning, psychologically is nothing else, was feeling a little down.

Did stay awake long enough last night to hear a thunderstorm passing through. Thought 'great, that's that out the way, tomorrow is bound to be a nice day, sweet dreams to me'.

Woke this morning to thick fog. For the first time we weren't having breakfast at or near the hotel. Cycled 14 miles to 'Mike's Place', but it was well worth it. Had a 'full American' which is like a full English except they have funny bacon and pancakes and syrup.

Leaving breakfast it started raining - hard. Infact it was piss-istently raining all morning, with thunder and lightning at times. At one point I was at the back of a four man paceline. With the spray from the road and the rain from above it was like having a hose continually spraying on to you. I was drenched. Lunch SAG was at a petrol station. Barbara and Karen were standing outside, in the pouring rain, frantically waving, to make sure we didn't go sailing on by. They really go the extra mile for us.

Had a big stroke of luck at lunchtime (well two strokes.) We've been advised to check our tyres frequently, especially when it's wet. It anything gets stuck in there it can take time to work through and cause a puncture. I checked at lunch and found a big shard of stone embedded in both the front and back tyres. We managed to hook them out and the tyres were fine for the rest of the day.

Stopped raining in the afternoon and we got into Springfield at 3pm. Had a quick look around this evening. Have to say I'm not warming to the place. A magnificent state capital building, but no shops. All I want is some shower gel and washing powder. We'll go in search tomorrow.