September 15: Martinsville to Greensburg (SAG to Oldenburg). 63 miles. Perspective of a SAG driver.

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By now most readers know that SAG refers to the the driver and vehicle that the riders rely on.  SAG stands for Support and Gear.  More realistically, all the stuff the riders have no intention of carrying on their bikes. 

The SAG driver has many duties, which in our group are not really outlined and seem to vary between drivers or even the day.  First and foremost duty is moving the car and stuff to the next location so we can then drag everything into our place of lodging for the night only to return it all to the car in the morning.  Often if feels as though we spend more time moving our stuff here and there, up and down, than riding........OK not really, just feels like it.

Other duties include stopping for gas, shopping for groceries, filling the water cooler and finding a place for a picnic lunch.  Sometimes being able to find a parking spot is the most arduous of jobs.  Some SAG drivers have been known to park in cemeteries, or in a ditch.  Lesli often pulled off on top of a mountain ready to pour out ice cold water.

Ninevah Indiana (random unrelated photo)


SAG drivers have many questions (most unanswered).  For instance:

Is this a safe place to leave the car?  Will the riders find it?  Is Sue's bike sticking out in traffic?

Should I buy apples or peaches?  Sausage or cheese?  Do the riders want a picnic or will they opt to eat out?  

Am I in the right town?  Am I in Illinois? or Indiana?  Where IS Ohio?  

The life of a SAG driver can be lonely.  Most of the time, after parking, the driver begins riding towards the riders who are riding towards the driver.  Riding alone can be lonely, but also invigorating because you don't have to worry about how fast the others are going, don't have to make conversation, but mostly its a time to get lost in your own thoughts.

Like Beef, Corn, Soy, and Sorghum.  Since leaving Oregon, there has been one or more of these crops spread out along our route.  Fields and fields and fields of these things.  We have been reading about the high water and feed needs of beef cattle, but when you visualize the fields and fields and fields of these grains used for feed, you see first hand the cost of that steak on your plate.  Surely these crops are used for other things like soy milk, corn oil, etc.  But lots of them are going to feed the cattle that feeds us.  Food for thought........literally.

Fields and fields and fields of Soy

These made me think of my brother's erector set.

These made me think of Corn


This was a huge operation with semi trucks pulling in and out filling up with Corn!

I rode past 8 of these in the course of about 10 minutes.  And, they are all made by the same company.  Someone (Brock) had a great idea!


Tonight we are staying in the quaint town of Oldenburg which has capitalized on their German heritage with all of the street sign translated into German.  We drank Spaten beer from tap.  I'll let you ponder on that.  Till tomorrow.............


Comments

  1. Stephanie and LanceSeptember 16, 2022 at 6:49 AM

    You are getting close to Cinci -- another big milestone (and perhaps a rest day?). See you soon on the C&O!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2022 at 5:38 PM

      Can't wait to see you Steph - and meet Lance!

      Delete

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