Saturday, June 6, 2015

149 Hills to Kirksville

The secret is out: The 7:00 departure group is the fun group. We stop for pictures, ice cream, pie and occasionally bacon cheeseburgers. Sometimes just for a breather. Some of the "Italians" - see Breaking Away - the fast paced group, if they're nursing an injury or just having a bad hair day will leave with our group. Not a snarky comment. It is offered with sincere respect and admiration for their many unique charms and remarkable cycling capabilities. I want to be like them when I grow up.

This is our last full riding in Missouri. Tomorrow we cross into Indiana. At about mile 34 today, Team 7 rolled into a convenience store for a quick break: Chocolate milk, energy food and quick  recharge. While there I chatted with local guy who asked where we were going. To Kirksville via Rt. 11. His response to that was "Sure are a lot of hills that way. Good luck!"

He wasn't fooling. But we did have good luck. Cooler weather than yesterday, no mechanical problems or punctures. And the rain stayed away! I felt like a kid much of the way rolling down long stretches to see how fast I could go and seeing how far up the next hill I could go. The road was mostly empty of traffic (was today Saturday?) so we really had a great chance to enjoy the quiet of the countryside for a good portion of the day.

However, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. There was some "language" coming out of my mouth while going up some ugly pitched hills only to find myself chagrined at seeing triplets or quadruplets yet to follow. At mile 50 we stopped at the Maple Hill Market outside of New Boston. There, Pauline and Arlene (mother and daughter team) had put out some bagged lunches for us. That with a cold beverage of choice made for a great break with 28 miles still to go of those "special" hills. Eating outside there I noticed a faded signpost with distances marked for LA, Tucson, and other points. Wow! LA is over 1,800 miles behind us already.

Keeping to task, the miles continued to fall away and at about 3 miles from today's destination hotel, my bike turned into the local Dairy Queen for necessary therapy. Bacon cheeseburger, Dr Pepper, fries and ice cream sundae.
Striking Blue Barn. 


LA 1,880 miles behind us...


Muddy shoes from last Thursday's adventure.  


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