Mentioning the heat wave seems ludicrous since each day tops the last as the hottest, most hazy and humid. Our sag driver Carolyn told us today as we were soaking our arm coolers and do-rags in the ice cooler that this is a historic heat spell - trying to frame riding in it as participation in a history in the making event seems to have little effect on being able to tolerate it for some of us, me included. But, I digress - back to yesterday when we left Muscatine, IA, headed for Kanawee, IL. We all herded up and took the lane as we crossed the Mississippi River for the last time - it felt safe yet with a sense of power to be in a group. Soon afterwards, we turned onto a 5 MILE stretch of scarified pavement, where the top layer of blacktop had been scraped off in prep for a new rode. Very tedious, but the rest of the ride was fun, with rolling hills and a heat index of only 110. Our cook (really chef is a more appropriate term as she can turn out fabulous food using a 2 burner gas stovetop in a really hot trailer) had to move the salmon from the charcoal grill to the inside when we had a bit -o - rain. Just so you know how good we are eating, the rest of the menu was tabouli made with quinoa, fresh corn on the cob, huge green salad and fresh mixed berry salad. We feel so pampered - thanks Michelle and Carol. Thanks too to all the drivers who pull way over when they are passing us on narrow no shoulder roads.