Crossing into Missouri

Crossing the Missouri river

I AM HOME!!!

Missouri Trivia at the SAg

Route Rap was outside – I think first time

Good evening all,

What a difference a day makes. Today I decided to see what happens if I wore two pair of bike shorts and it seems to have made a big difference. The foot burn issue has abated somewhat as well. All told, the 86 miles was 20 miles less than yesterday. In addition we had cooler temperatures, more favorable wind patterns, better roads and the climbing felt easier.

Topeka is a fairly large city and we took the first 10 miles or so just to get onto the country roads. After that we did a lot of climbs and descents through rural Kansas. The scenery was pretty but not as many animals as prior days. At about mile 27 or so Cindi came flying by me and I fred to keep up with her but she beat me to the first SAG at mile 32. Cindi tends to ride with some of the slower riders but can really put down the hammer when the spirit moves her. She is the shortest rider but her height doesn’t impair her cycling ability. She’s only been cycling for about 4 years but has mastered a lot in a short time.

Upon leaving the firstSAG, I started to catch a lot of the early departure riders and some who left the SAG before me. I was riding with Rich and John a couple of the faster riders (John as you may recall is still nursing a rib injury but is getting better by the day) when I saw another rider way up front. I pedaled like crazy to catch up and lo and behold it was my roommate Larry. I caught him around mile 50 or so. Larry had the nasty fall yesterday and usually finishes in the rear. Today though he was ring strong and I decided to ride with him to the finish.

We crossed into Missouri at Atchison Kansas and had to cross a very narrow and scary bridge across the Missouri River. Larry had a semi truck a few feet behind him not at all happy following a group of cyclists – there was no where else to ride… The 4 of us did the ritual sprinkling at the state border sign and were happy to have crossed into another state. Now we are officially more than half way through the ride. The second SAG was just up the road and we spent a little time there as it was cool and the food was good.  arol and Robin always do a fantastic job and I can’t compliment them enough.

The rest of the ride was relatively flat until we got to St. Joseph. Now, I assume our hotel is on the far side of St. Joe since we rode a good bit through town. Larry and I got turned around a few times but found our way back on course . There was a lot of climbing within the city and our route to the hotel went through a big park – corridor in the middle of the city. It was very scenic and St. Joseph should be proud of it. Many of the riders were impressed. It was very hilly though. Larry and I got into the hotel ahead of many (but not all) of the other riders. Larry was thrilled to have had such a good day especially after the fall. I might add hat Mike F. had strong ride even though he started at the first SAG – sounds like the shoulder is doing much better.

At the hotel we are staying at (Drury Inn) there is a reunion of US Marines who had been in Vietnam. Cindi had told them that I was ring for the Wounded Warrior Project and several came over to thank met for doing that. I felt very humbled and said that the Thanks You’s are coming from me and I appreciated all that they have done for us. They had visited the grave of there commander and had a ceremony there and have activities planned over the next few days, they meet every year. Great group of guys and their wives and some of their children came along as well.

Tomorrow, we have a lot of climbing on the legendary Missouri hills. I hope that the strength I felt today is with me tomorrow as I think the climbing will be with us until Illinois. Thanks for reading and if anyone had any requests or ideas of good pranks that I could pull on some of the other riders please let me know. The whole group is starting to come up with ideas / jokes / pranks to play on each other. I usually am not lacking for ideas in that vein but thought there may be some good idea lurking out there – fun but not hurtful….

Tailwinds

Chuck