Monday, September 30, 2019
Start: Indianapolis, Indiana
End: Richmond, Indiana
Mileage today/cumulative: 75 / 294
Elevation Ascended: 1,463′
Weather: Sunny, 72° at start; Sunny, 90º at finish; Winds: mostly behind us!
Flat tires (entire group) day/cumulative: 0 / 1
Some of you have wondered about our overall route from Chicago to New York City. You can check out the map here (there’s also a link in the right side bar).
After a rest day in Indianapolis (Day Four), today was one of those “get from point A to point B” kind of days without a lot of things to see along the way. It was also one of the few days on this trip without riding on a bike path or a trail. On top of all of that, it was ridiculously hot and humid for the last day of September, so everyone just wanted to “get it done”.
However, it wasn’t without some historical points of interest. In 1806, Thomas Jefferson signed into law an act of Congress establishing a National Road to connect the Atlantic Ocean with the Ohio River. The National Road eventually became US 40 in the original 1925 plan for U.S. Routes. Today we rode 45 miles on US 40, a major east–west highway that runs from Silver Summit, Utah to Atlantic City, New Jersey. US 40 once traversed the entire country and is one of the first U.S. highways created in 1926.
We paused briefly in front of the Vinton House in Cambridge City, Indiana. The building was established as a hotel in 1847 and sets at the former intersection of the National Road (U.S. 40) and the Whitewater Canal. The canal’s turnaround basin lapped just a few feet from the rear door, bringing passengers and goods from Cincinnati. Its location was so central that at various times, it served as a stage coach stop, a telegraph office, a mail office and even a recruiting post during the Civil War.
Other than that, it wasn’t much else to see over the course of 75 miles. Day Six promises to be more interesting when we quickly cross into Ohio, ride on some rails-to-trails, and have lunch at a Dayton, Ohio brew pub. I’ll sample more local beer and maybe there will be a dog or two for Bev to pet.
Glad to hear there was a rest day! Seems like such a cool way to really see the country.
Enjoyed the U.S. 40 history lesson. Our own U.S. 70 shares a similar background as an east-west, sea-to-sea, route across the country. In recent years, U.S. 70 has taken a back seat to Interstate 40. Sorry you guys are having to deal with such heat, I posted yesterday about park rangers dusting trout for chiggers. Hot and dry here too.
Hi Greg and Bev, I am thoroughly enjoying your ride. Your narrative is reminding me again of all of the reasons I enjoy the US and its people. Thank you both, Keep upright!
John from Perth Western Australia
I’m enjoying your travels! Thanks for sharing—I especially liked the picture of the harness racer on the side of the building. Could it have been Greyhound?
Hi Jane! The horse was Single G. He was quite spectacular. Here’s an interesting article on his accomplishments, along with a photo of the memorial marker (we did not see it on our route): https://www.waynet.org/waynet/spotlight/2010/100503-single-g.htm