Day 35: Rest day in Valpariso, Indiana

No pictures to share with you today. Got in to Valparaiso yesterday about 2:30 after a 93 mile ride. I am feeling so much better after being on prednisone for about 5 days now. Plus good hydration with electrolyte supplementation (pill form and tablets in my water) has helped tremendously. I have also increased my salt intake, since I am waisting it so much. I salt everything I eat, but draw the line at dessert. Ha!

I rode five days in a row with 3 of them being centuries, which is huge for me. On the day we rode from Owatanna to Winona and I had to sag after only 25 miles due to extreme fatigue, nausea, cramping, lightheartedness, and overall body aches (due to my adrenal glands not producing enough cortisol) I was ready to quit and go home when we got to Chicago. So now I know I can make it to the end of the ride. Thanks so much to everyone who has been sending well wishes and prayers my way... I think they helped as much as the roids... Ha! and no I wont bulk up like Arnold, but I may get a little moon faced and may need to shave my face before we get to DC, but it will be worth it.

Well, as most of you have guessed, I have met a really nice man on this ride, Chuck Field. I am so lucky to be sharing this experience with him. Granted it may be difficult keeping things going after the ride is over as he lives in Fredrick, Maryland and I live in Puyallup, WA.... Lets see that makes it what 3,300 miles that we live apart. I guess we could each ride half way and meet in the middle of the country.

I am going to stay in the DC area for a few days after the ride with him and then he is going to fly back to the Seattle area with me for 5 days. It will extend both of our vacations a little. I am looking forward to spending time in DC as the last time I was there was about 25 years ago.

We have been pampering ourselves for the past day and a half. Chuck got us a hotel room at the Courtyard Marriott, and I sprung for two great meals at Kelsey's restaurant. Both of our meals were awesome (seafood last night for both of us and fillet Mignon and prime rib tonight). Jason (our waiter) if you read this, you gave us such great service and really made our stay here in Valparaiso so much more enjoyable, thanks so much... If those of you who are reading this blog, i ever get to Valparaiso, eat at Kelsey's and ask to sit in Jason's section, he'll take great care of you.

Also today, we went to Walmart to pick up some things... seems like we are always running out of snacks and toiletries and now bug spray... ha! We did laundry at the University where we are keeping our gear and cleaned our bikes. I even changed out my tire on the back (had a couple of weak spots on the tread) and changed my chain.. (thanks Ephiony and Jim at Spoke and Sprocket, you'd be so proud of how I am taking care of my bike).

Chuck and I even got to soak in the hot tub this morning before a full complimentary breakfast in the hotel. It was so funny watching us put various body parts up to the jets ( the ball of his foot and his calves, my knees and a part of my body I don't want to admit to putting up next to the jets). We just would sigh and make these funny faces. Good thing no one else was in the pool area or they may have gotten grossed out.

Well, I really need to get some sleep... Chuck went to bed hours ago. A side effect of prednisone (especially the dose that I am on) is insomnia.... so I guess I will go and try and catch some zzz's. It may be DC before I have internet access, but I will keep sending pictures from my camera phone and txt messages to Akira to post. Take care all... Arnie, safe travels back to NZ.. stay in touch. I have your email address and will write when I get done with my great adventure.. I am sure blessed to be able to finish it.