Hysteria My sister-in-law, Sharon, had a Wicks’ sugar crème pie (an exclusive) as a surprise waiting for me. And, my brother-in-law, Floyd, had made some homemade beef jerky for my ride. A day of great memories as I rode south to Richmond, Indiana to prepare for the ride around Indiana the next day! On the way, the wind was wicked! A big tree was blown down across the road just south of Wheeling. Several men in pickup trucks were just starting to cut up the tree with chainsaws as I approached. I immediately turned east at the intersection nearby as a detour. This The Land of country road led me over to a main road heading south to Richmond. Hoosier - A native or inhabitant of I enjoyed growing up on a farm near The rest of the ride down to my Indiana. Fairmount, Indiana and have always staging point was uneventful. been proud to be a Hoosier. Karen A theory attributed to Gov. Joseph There, I had a hotel room reserved. and I currently live in Mississippi Wright derived Hoosier from an and make a trek back to Indiana to The IBA requirements are as Indian word for corn, "hoosa." visit family a couple times a year. follows: Indiana flatboatmen taking corn or On this visit during Memorial Day maize to New Orleans came to be The Ride Around Indiana (which Weekend, I wanted to attempt the known as "hoosa men" or Hoosiers. includes a visit to ) is Iron Butt Association’s (IBA) “Ride roughly 1,025 miles. You must ride Hysteria - A psychoneurosis marked Around Indiana”. your motorcycle in a path that by emotional excitability and It was very windy and rainy as I left traces the geographic borders of the disturbances of the psychogenic, the town of Matthews, Indiana after state. sensory, vasomotor, and visceral a day of visiting family. My sister, functions. You must start and end at any Pam, had bought my lunch earlier required city. You must start and Hoosier Hysteria – A native of that day in Noblesville. I got a end the ride at the same location, Indiana (men of corn) emotional chance to hug my older sister, i.e. same DBR (Dated Business excited about their homeland! Leslie, at a campground where her Receipt). family was spending the weekend.

You may not leave Indiana. I was in bed by 9:00 pm and up at the I-80/90 toll road that took me 3:30 am getting ready to start my west across the top of Indiana. The You must visit each of the listed ride. I was out of the room and Indiana State Troopers were busy jurisdictions. You must use a fueling my bike at the gas station on this road! I made it to the East satellite tracking system. At a just down the street. Official start Chicago area ahead of schedule! minimum, you must have a starting time according to my Richmond Life was good! and ending DBR indicating the city, DBR was 4:10 am. date and time. As I snaked my way up through East The Richmond to Indianapolis and Chicago to Whiting, traffic was Richmond back to Richmond was uneventful. light. There was some road Fremont It was 46 degrees and slight mist in construction that had me diverting Whiting the air. No traffic on I-70 at this time from my planned route a few times. Terre Haute in the morning made it a nice, easy But, all in all, no problem in the area Mt Vernon ride! I thought would be the pain point of Tell City this entire ride. Jeffersonville Back in Richmond, I headed north Rising Sun on state road 27. The sun was slowly After I got my required receipt in rising. Perfect timing! I enjoy Whiting, I hit highway 41 south. You must visit cities in the order watching the sun rise as I ride This road took me down the west listed. You must also visit through the countryside! side of Indiana. It was a great 4 lane Indianapolis and obtain a DBR, but divided highway most of the way! you may not start your ride or end As I rode over the overpass in And, hardly any traffic to speak of! your ride in Indianapolis. Either Winchester, I looked for the Wicks As a matter of fact, the whole day order (clockwise or counter- pie company. Wicks’ sugar crème was light on traffic! I wonder if this clockwise) is fine but they must be in pies are very popular in the Hoosier was normal or people still aren’t out order, e.g. Richmond MUST come land. One of my favorites! Thanks, and about due to the pandemic? immediately before or after Rising Sharon, for the surprise! Sun. The skies were bright blue with a A little later in Berne, Indiana, I saw few clouds and the temperature rose The ride must be at least 1,000 miles a few Amish horse and buggies on a up to 61 degrees as I rode south. A and completed in less than 24 hours. side road. It looked like they were great day to be on the bike! headed to the same destination. I My strategy on this ride was to start saw several others headed for that The western side of Indiana early in Richmond, then go to road too. I wondered if they were reminded me of the Mississippi Indianapolis and back. This would gathering somewhere on this early Delta. It’s flat! Real flat! Corn, knock out the Indianapolis leg, plus Saturday morning. I also wondered soybeans and wheat fields for as far it would be an easy ride at night what they thought of the big Honda as you can see! But, for the most allowing the sun to rise as I started Gold Wing as I passed them on the part that is Indiana everywhere! The north on state road 27 afterward. I road. Good thoughts, I hope! “men of corn”! would ride counterclockwise in order to get the northwest corner South of Ft Wayne, I jumped on the I stopped in Terre Haute for my requirement out of the way fairly bypass. This 4-lane divided required receipt, then back on the early. I figured this would be the highway took me around to I-69. road south. I rode through pain point for this ride. Smooth sailing up to Fremont. After Vincennes where I attended the getting my required receipt, I got on

University there over 30 years ago. The last 80 miles were mainly on had a family cookout that day and That place has grown! nice curvy country roads. Like the Karen brought me a plateful to the whole day, traffic was light. The room. It was awesome! Thank you, North of Evansville, I exited off roads were well marked. That made Floyd! I had a full stomach and highway 41 and took country roads for an easy and enjoyable ride at ready for bed! Now, I was tired! west and south down to Mt Vernon. night. The countryside starts rolling with The ride around Indiana may be a more and more trees. Perfect time of By the time I made it to Richmond, little too much of a day ride for the year! Everything was green the temperature was down to 46 some, but to me, it was awesome! I and/or blooming with color! degrees. Same temperature that I thoroughly enjoyed riding through started out almost 19 hours ago! the countryside and seeing the crops I got my required receipt and snaked in an early growth stage. Farmland my way east to Tell City. When I I stopped and got my final receipt everywhere! The big city of East was young, this town was known for before heading back to Gas City Chicago and Whiting were not as it’s superior furniture stores. I didn’t where Karen and I had a room for challenging as I thought they might see anything furniture related as I the next 2 nights. The 65 miles back be. The beautiful rolling rode through town. Probably all the was great! I thought I might be tired countryside along the southern furniture business moved to another by now, but I wasn’t. It had been a border was unforgettable. For this country where it’s made cheaper, I great day! “man of corn”, it was an would guess. When I arrived at the hotel in Gas emotionally exciting ride all the Tell City was a beautiful little town City, Karen had a plate of food way around! Literally! on the River! It was 5:00 pm, waiting on me! Her brother, Floyd,

I was hungry! So, I stopped at the

Pour Haus Pub & Eatery. This was a busy little place! But, I was served quickly. I had a great meal and was out the door in good time! Awesome! Again, I got my required receipt and headed to Jeffersonville. This took me to I-64, then to I-265 around New Albany. I stopped again for a receipt and back out on the road! The scenery was beautiful as I entered Madison and zig-zagged along the river! There was still a little daylight left as I rode along. I watched a brilliant sunset in my rearview mirrors! By the time I arrived in Rising Sun, it was dark.

That was my final corner! All I had to do to complete the ride was close Actual Route Depicted by Satellite Tracking System the gap back to Richmond.