The band is playing and the pig that was roasted is mostly consumed along with mountains of corn, potatoes, tomatoes, fresh baked cookies, and many cakes. Larry, a former Big Rider who lives here in LaPorte arranges this soirée’ every year for the riders. We have ridden seven days in a row covering more than 400 miles in the past four days. We’re dog-tired, and are so ready for a rest.
Today’s ride was scheduled for 103 miles, but with two detours and some bonus miles at the beginning we clocked over 110. They were easy miles for the most part with a favorable wind, low temperatures, and few hills. Still, we all seemed to arrive with very little gas in the tank.
The landscape ranged from the farms of the Illinois countryside to the urban sprawl of greater Chicago. We saw many housing developments being built in the Indiana countryside. The farms that they replace will be gone for a long time.
As we pushed ourselves past 100 miles and got closer to LaPorte, I thought of two friends, Kaaren and Paul. Both have passed from this mortal coil. Both excelled at their chosen professions, Kaaren was an opera singer who sang solos at the Met, Paul an eminent geneticist and groundbreaking improv artist. I don’t know why these two came to mind, but when they did, my eyes teared up, and I struggled to continue riding until they cleared. I think Kaaren and Paul did the very best they could at their chosen work and at their lives.
Each day on the road, we each do the best we can, whether it is the speed we ride, the distance, our ambassadorship for the Lung Association, or the building of lifetime friendships with other people on the Big Ride. It’s a big job, and we’re the ones who can do it.

Jennifer, Jeanette, Scott, Courney and Bruce found themselves with the same jersey on today, as well as having stopped together for a rest, so we all posed for a jersey of the day picture.

Erwin is from the Netherlands and has been in this country studying Business Administration. He and Lucija will be moving to Brussels where he will work for a consulting firm. He's a very fast rider, so this is a rare picture of him on the road.