Johno's 'mad journey' 2 - from the Gulf to Canada

Weather: 63F (17C) at 7am with very smoky skies and a light North wind. It remained cool all day with the temperature never exceeding 75F (21C).  The gloom and smoke lifted a bit around 1pm as the wind from the north increased.  The sunshine could not really penetrate the smoke and by 5pm, the smoke worsened.  As I was mostly going in an easterly direction the wind was a cross-wind but for about 25 miles as I was going to the north, it was a head wind.  The last 6 miles to the finish was a tough ride into a strengthened wind. Distance: 104.3 miles (168 kms) This long distance was not planned. Unfortunately, I left my wallet in the hotel room and when I was alerted to this, I was already 12.5miles up the road to Sault Ste Marie (the Soo as it's known locally).  So I turned around immediately and tried to rationalize the extra miles as a) a warm-up for the day's ride and b) it would give me at least one 100 mile day on this journey. Elevation gained: 1755 feet (53...

Weather: the searing heat of near 100F yesterday abated overnight to be replaced with a NW wind bringing dangerously smoky air from the wildfires in Canada, that is now covering much of the NE part of the US.  The temperature remained in the low 70sF (24C) during the day under poor visibiity.  It spit a little rain in the afternoon but not enough to warrant a rain jacket  It was hard to tell what was smoke and what was cloud.  The wind was not strong and it was mostly a cross-wind for me Distance: 87.2 miles (140kms) Average moving speed: 14.2mph (23kph) Elevation gain: 991feet (302meters) - only a few small climbs Calories: 2283 Estimated sweat loss: 4.2liters (142fl oz) Shvitz index: 2/10.  This was probably the coolest day of the trip and for the first time, my bike jersey was not matted to my back all day.  I saw other bike tourists in the morning wearing rain gear but I was comfortable without any protective over-jackets. The famous quote from Roseanne...

 Weather;  a scorching day with the temperature rising to 99F (37C) and a heat index of 108F (42C).  The sun felt intense, more so than in the South, perhaps because there were no clouds.  The day started at 80F (28C) and the humidity was still at 80% at 8am.  The wind was from every direction, swirling a lot, sometimes a tail wind, sometimes a head wind, sometimes a crosswind.   It was not terribly strong but when it blew in the afternoon, it just added more heat to the day. Distance: 77.8 miles (125kms) Average moving speed: 14.6 mph (23.5kph) Calories expended: 2745 Elevation gain: 778feet (237 meters). Since the route closely followed the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and avoided the bluffs that overlooked part of the highway, it felt very flat.  At about 10 feet per mile elevation change, it certainly was. Estimated sweat loss: 6.7 liters (226 fl oz) Shvitz index: 8/10, though I tried to be ahead of the thirst, it was a losing battle despite co...

 Weather :  it was already 80F (28C) at 8:30 with moderate humidity and a noticeable wind from the west. The day got hot quickly as the warm western winds picked up and by late afternoon, the temperature reached 98F (37C) with a heat index of 105F (41C).   Given that I was traveling in a northerly direction, the wind was mostly a cross wind.   The sun was intense all day and there was hardly any shade along the route.   It felt like Tennessee a fortnight ago.  Luckily I had a short ride planned, Distance: 62.6 miles (101kms) Average moving speed: 13.5mph (22kph) Elevation gain: 595feet (181meters) - the route followed the flat shores of Lake Michigan Calories: 2131 Estimated sweat loss: 5.6 liters (189 fl oz).  I drank a lot (liter of chocolate milk, large cold coffee, 6 liters of water, Coke and lemonade, and 32 oz Powerade) but I was still thirsty. I followed the Fox River Trail to downtown Green Bay and then soon got on the country ro...

 Weather: 72degF (22C) at 7am with high humidity.  The wind had shifted a bit overnight from the NE to the NW and later in the day, became more south-westerly.  The temperature rose quickly as I moved inland away from Lake Michigan and was in the upper 80s (30C+) by mid afternoon.  By the time I reached De Pere, it was at 90F (22C).   Luckily the wind was mostly a cross-wind as it picked up in the afternoon bringing warmer temperatures to the Upper Midwest. Distance: 92.4 miles (149kms) Elevation gained: 2186 feet (666 meters) Averaging moving speed: 13.0mph (21kph).    Calories expended: 2939 (a giant blizzard at Dairy Queen recovered more than 1/3 of that total since it was 1036 calories) Estimated sweat loss: 6.8 liters (230 fluid oz) Shvitz index: 6/10 - it was hot and sticky out in the farms but the trails offered shade.  I now feel like 85F (30C) and humid is relatively comfortable.  The forecast for the next week is for temperatur...