Ride Solo Series #2 Back to Alderaan

My warmup is on a different 'ride' but is the same route from Washington,IL as the cooldown after turning off Victory Hills north onto DeeMack road. The route goes  counterclockwise. So today it had a strong wind from the south-as a storm cell developed in the SW. That cell caught up with us on the cool down 3 miles from Washington IL. Took a 30 minute shelter to let the hail, wind, and rain 1.7 inches in 30 minutes subside. Then all the midwest humidity turned on for the sunny finish to the ride. On route- I was looking forward to the tailwind uphills, but that turned into time in a sauna and I cooked. When I had planned to attack the uphills, all I could do was try and keep pedaling. Most of the ride seemed in cross or headwinds, one time relocating me to nearly the ditch! Most of this route is paved, but the gravel sections are sure in the right spots to keep this route entertaining! My warmup buddy took off about 2 minutes ahead of me and I never got any closer to him today. This effort is going to require a few days to recover from. Oh, that and the shock of rounding a downhill curve at speed, my planned trajectory taking me directly over a rather large snake. Good thing my steed has quick steering. Bunny hopping didn't come to mind until afterwards. I can now say that I've ridden the perimeters of 3 states: Texas, New Hampshire,, and and abbreviated Nebraska!