No clock in room-wake at 4:30 & 5:30–ask Armand for time-now 6:55!!  Hear them outside-brush teeth, dress, pack–out door in 7 min.  In 3 min bike up steep hill–4 in pack together ahead-I’m bringing up rear. Leave Jean & Lynn-I think I’m in the wrong group. Scenery is beautiful, trees & flowers line rd-feels like being in rain forest at times. Rds are good most of the time except for new rds made of rough gravel/tar asphalt (like TX)–felt like getting beat up by rd & I’m already very sore-very little traffic. At 30 m get to Elma–insist on getting donuts. At red light ask lady where I can get donuts–pts down the street to the rt. IA & Whitney are already at gas stations. Exxon doesn’t have them–IA (Iowa aka Armand) tries to tempt me w/pkg donuts-NO, I want fresh donuts. Whitney goes across street to Texaco for coffee–NO donuts–have to go to store. I lead pack to store. Hard to choose–finally pick jelly & chocolate covered–almost eaten before IA can pay. Sit on bench in store w/IA & Whitney standing over me–don’t hurry-want to enjoy every last bite. Good down hill–fly past them-in lead for 5 sec (like yesterday) before Whitney can’t stand it & flies past me. Whitney gets tired of our pace & leaves us. Take picture of calves enclosed w/little houses. Name of farm–AUSTIN ORGANIC FARM–take picture when AUSTIN family (Jim, Janie & Ron) come out to greet us. Tell them we’re from AUSTIN–invite us to tour farm. 1st one to use ROBOTIC milking equipment in area–had film crew out in morning. Everything is computerized-cows (about 170) produce 60 to 90 lbs a day & are milked 2 to 3 times each day. Cows come into milking area on their own–completely calm waiting for turn-walk into stall-sensors know where to go–sometimes they don’t want to leave-next cow knows it’s her turn & nudges cow out. Very impressive & very impressive family that would take so much time to show us around. Jim is 70 (looks much younger)-equipment comes from Sweden & costs about $450,000-farm has been in the family since mid 1800’s (I think). HILIGHT OF TRIP SO FAR!!!
1 m stop & eat hot dog–now can make it to CENTRALIA & Motel 6 ($50). Whitney has been in town for hrs-Jean & Lynn come in right behind us-everyone agrees best day so far. Map rap at MacD–tell them about farm-Gonsoulin’s grew up on farm-dad was a butcher. Whitney milked cows growing up (he’s a dr. now) & Armand took care of the little animals (chickens & pigeons). Whitney is suppose to wake us up tomorrow. Finish blog at 10:30–discover the entire blog was not published & lost-go to bed.
66.5 miles 12 mph (4-32 mph) 5 hrs 7 min rd time 1,600 ft of elevation