Good evening all,

Did you ever have a day that started out one way and ended on a completely different note? Today was one of those days for me. We were looking at a similar day as yesterday with comparable climbing (roughly 5000 feet). I typically break the ride into segments that may correspond to the SAGs we have or other ways to divide the day into smaller chunks. Today I was thinking in 25 mile increments as we had a potential stop (a store) at mile 25 and a SAG at mile 50 and then finish at mile 75.

I didn’t feel real chipper when we started this am but the first 5 miles were ok and then I began to fade. Everyone passed me and I was bringing up the rear. We were ring along the highway and the road was a little rough, plus I was a little dejected at what I thought was some bad news this morning. I just kept thinking to myself – make it to mile 25 and tale it from there. My saddle sores are really bad but I just had no zip in my legs.

When I reached the store, Mike F. , Rich and John F were just leaving so I didn’t stop (no intake or output required) and my camelback was half full as well as 2 water bottles. I thought perhaps I can hang with these guys for awhile. After couple of miles, Mike and Rich stopped (I think Rich said something about needing to eat something) and I just kept on going. About that time, we also reached the rolling hills. If you power down one hill, the momentum will carry you over the top of the next one. It works almost like a yo-yo. For some unknown reason, I began to feel energized and started to catch folks.

At the first (and only SAG), I had caught up with everyone. I wasn’t hungry and it was starting to get hot, so I ate 4 pieces of fruit, filled up my camelback and took off. Most of the riders tend to linger for 15 minutes or more but sometimes, I like to keep them short. When I rest too long, it gets really hard to start pedaling again and I could tell the heat was getting worse.

The first half of the last 25 miles had some difficult climbs that really burned. I must also say the scenery was beautiful- little towns, pastures, creeks, horses and other livestock. I have seen more road kills in Missouri than any other state and today I saw quite a few opportunistic vultures feasting on some deer and raccoon. They flew away before I could get a picture but perhaps someone else was lucky. The last half of those 25 miles were easier and I could stay down on the aero bars. Theride into Kirksville (home of Truman State) was uneventful but hot.

When I got to the hotel, Tracey was unloading the bags and seemed shocked to see me. She asked if I got a ride or got bumped. She does a really good job of keeping track of the riders every day and her early sports had me well back. I did come in first and she was more excited than I was and took a picture of the time sheet. I tell you that she and her staff are something special – they care about us, our well being and work hard to make the other aspects as easy as possible. Our bags are in our rooms and the air conditioner is on. All we have to worry about is riding and laundry.

Today, I brought my cloths into the lobby looking of the guest laundry room. ooops – they didn’t have one. I spoke to one of the staff and he gave me directions to a laundry mat but it was over a mile away. I said oh, I don’t have a car. He took my dirty cloths and the hotel laundered them for me! My roommate Larry also asked about the drivers in Missouri whom he described as the most courteous to cyclists that the has seen. He asked me if we have the “4 foot rule like Pennsylvania” – I said I don’t think so (readers?). I told him that rural Midwest is usually very respectful and slower paced – I don’t think we have a law. In the bigger cities there are a few more folks who are in a big hurry, distracted on they cell phones or just plain ant0-social. It is probably a small percentage but the rural folks have been very good to us. I think it also is a good reminder to cyclist to be considerate of the drivers, obeying traffic signs, not riding 2 abreast on hard to pass roads, letting cars get around us, using signals and thanking the drivers when they give us the right of way all go a long way to eating the right to be on the roads.

Roberta of the tandem couple with Jeff from NH) said to me “Missouri is beautiful why do you call it Misery?” I said that is only because of the hills not the citizens or the scenery but it a challenging place to ride. I also mentioned that the Southern part of the state with the Ozarks and lakes is also very scenic and folks should check it out.

Perhaps I will have some photos to add later

tailwinds

Chuck