Day 26 + 27, Where the streets have no name

So the plan was originally to bike from Peoria IL to Muscatine IA in a day but due to the severe thunderstorms we had to cut it into two. Yesterday we went from Peoria to Galesburg IL then today Galesburg IL to Muscatine IA. The roads out here really don't have names they are all numbered, yesterday I was on 1050th st for about 10 miles...

Yesterday's Storms

The storms were pretty severe and there is a lot of flooding going on out here. The wind was brutal especially today. I was biking for about 10 miles through the rain and 15 mph crosswinds so when the rain hits you it stings. But I made it into Iowa and crossed the Mississippi today! Pictures and Videos below.

IOWA!!!

Riding into the storm

Mississippi River!

Tired

 Video: Riding in today's rain.

Day 25, ...But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night

Biked really far today. Champaign to Peoria IL, 93 or so miles. Its becoming routine now. Wake up, eat breakfast with my mom, enjoy our daily cinnamon buns, get on the bike for a few hours, eat lunch, bike for a few more hours, shower, eat dinner, watch playoff hockey/basketball and fall asleep.

Had a pretty strong crosswind today but it didn't slow me down too much. Tomorrow the wind will be at my back but they are calling for afternoon tornado producing storms so we will be keeping a close eye on the weather. In case you were wondering what its like to bike in the middle of nowhere Illinois here are two videos for you to enjoy and of course some daily pictures.

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Zach is still fighting!!!

University of Illinois SigEp

Windmill farm

The land of Lincoln

Celebrating finishing the day

Day 24, Wind, Cows and New Tires

 Battled 30 mph wind gusts today coming out of the SSW as I was riding NNW so at times it was a cross wind, headwind, and tailwind. It was my best friend and my worst enemy. I also saw miles and miles of nothing with the occasional field of cows. It was actually very beautiful out there and an absolute blast when the wind was at my back, I could average about 25 with ease.

While here in Champaign I took my bike the Champaign Cycle https://www.facebook.com/champaign.cycle?fref=ts to get new tires. I had started to ware holes in mine...a picture below. When he took the back tire off I had realized that I patched the tube over a year ago and it had survived until now. Its good to know those patch kits actually do a phenomenal job. With fresh tires and a super clean chain and derail-er I'll be back at it tomorrow to bike 92 miles to Peoria, IL. Thanks to Champaign Cycle for hooking me up with fresh tires!

Random Mansion in the middle of nowhere Illinois

Old tire

Champaign Cycle

Day 23, In Illinois the creeks run....orange?

Biked into Illinois today and passed through Indiana State SigEp. Luckily their president was still in town for the summer and I got to meet him! They seem like a great chapter!

Staying in Paris for the night. The waitress gave us free cheesecake!

The weirdly orange creek...

Storm

Me after storm

Indiana State SigEp!

Sag Swaggin- Lunch Break

Day 23, Indiana University!

Made it to Bloomington, IN today home of the Indiana Hoosiers. Their mansion of a fraternity house holds 70 brothers. It's closed for the summer so I unfortunately didn't get to go in. Most of the brothers were out of town for the Indy 500 but I got to watch the Pacers Heat game with a brother at Buffalo Wild Wings. They seem to have a great chapter here.

Apparently every year they do the "Little 500" which is a bike race where the Greek houses compete and bike 200 laps around a track on a single speed bike. I'd love to make another trip out here to see that.

Going to Paris IL tomorrow stopping for lunch by Indiana State University.

Day 22, Meanwhile in Indiana

Entered into Indiana today, it's a super exciting state... Rolling into Indiana University tomorrow.

Eating at the "Buffalo Wings and Rings"

Their specialty 100oz chilled beer tubes that are put directly on your table.

This was a very cool sign my Mom found.

Typical sights of Indiana

University of Cincinnati SigEp visit

I've been having a blast at UC with the Ohio Theta brothers. Their house is awesome definitely a great place to stop by if you're a SigEp traveling through Cinci. All SigEp visits so far have been extremely successful and an absolute blast.

Today I experienced downtown and went to Cincinnati Bike Center: https://www.facebook.com/CincinnatiBikeCenter which was a great shop! They hooked me up with new brake pads and a t-shirt. The employees were extremely nice and helpful, if you're an avid biker definitely make sure to stop @ CBC when you're here.

The brothers took me to the best local food places downtown and we chilled and ate at fountain square which btw has very clean water


















Going to the Cincinnati Reds game tonight with my Mom, its phenomenal weather for a baseball game, real pumped. I get back on the road tomorrow and head to Greensburg Indiana

Day 20 Cedarville to Cincinnati

Did about 73 miles yesterday and it was all on beautiful paved trails. Ohio is definitely the best state to bike in so far. Made it to University of Cincinnati and spent the day off today to exchange new brake pads and a new GPS. Long story but I had to exchange my GPS... Anyway more pictures and stories to come from my UC SigEp visit!

Day 19/ OSU SigEp visit

My visit at OSU was phenomenal. Couldn't have asked for a better time thanks to Jackie Fisher, a sister of Alpha Xi Delta at OSU, who inspired a spontaneous visit to Cedar Point. The coasters there are unbeatable and she's an awesome person to say the least! The brothers showed me a great time and OSU campus is awesome. All of the greek houses are mansions, I'm definitely jealous of their set up. I got to play beach volleyball with the SigEps on their personal front lawn volleyball pit, definitely very jealous of that. Thanks to the brothers at THE ARK for giving me a place to keep my stuff!

Today I dodged some thunderstorms that were the left overs of the horrible storms in Oklahoma. Pics below. Thinking about all the people out there that had their homes destroyed, this weather is crazy.

Tomorrow I'll be heading to University of Cincinnati SigEp. Pumped for my fourth SigEp visit! VDBL

Day 18- Rest Day/ Spontaneous trip to Cedar Point

Took an impromptu trip to Cedar Point. It was a blast! The roller coasters are nuts here. OSU visit has been phenomenal!

Day 17 THE Ohio State University

Made it to Columbus Ohio today. Here are some pics my Mom took from downtown Columbus, OH. Rest day tomorrow. Mom flys home to check in there. Will meet back up in Cedarville OH Wed. evening.

Day 16- Parkersburg WV- Logan OH

Crossed over the Ohio River today and entered my 5th state. Ohio is the best state to bike in so far. Wide shoulders, well paved roads and flatter terrain. PA was by far the hardest and WV had the worst paving. I'll be rolling into THE Ohio State University tomorrow and staying with the OSU SigEps. 3rd SigEp stop. VDBL.