Cool and windy from ENE strengthened during balance of the ride. Started with six (Rob, Carrie, Rick P, Don and Brian) and added Fred and Carl on outbound leg and Gene R at first rest stop. Partly cloudy and cool for the first half of the ride but the clouds eventually rolled-in. The outbound leg to Elgin was through enough neighborhoods to help buffer the winds. Good accordion pace for all. Had take-out lunch from Applebee's in Elgin and they really appreciated the business. New section on LongCommon Parkway was boulevard-like and in good condition. We skipped the Marathon station in Wasco as everyone was in good shape. Gene peeled off in Wasco and took Great Western Trail back and Fred and Carl stayed back and headed to Batavia via Keslinger. Final leg on Bliss was with heavy traffic but a solid crosswind push home. KeDeKa Road turned out to be a quiet shortcut for future consideration and the two segments ion IL 47 had very wide clean shoulders.