Wednesday, July 21 - Day 38 - 78 Miles - 2844.7 Total Miles

(Kim blogging today) Well.....what do I say about today? If I blog from my perspective, it involved a lot of the same things I have already written about in previous entries. Because it is hot/humid, and pop-up thunderstorms are often threatening, I stick close by the guys. Usually, I meet them up the road in 15-20 mile increments, replenishing their water and gatorade supplies, and handing out the occasional banana, granola bar, etc. Today, I stuck even closer, because thunderstorms loomed in the distance the majority of the second half of our day. Actually, I did have to perform a "search and extract" mission today around 11:30 a.m. At the second pit stop of the day, Steve mentioned that the skies looked like rain, and sure enough, shortly thereafter the clouds darkened, the winds picked up, and the thunder/lightning started. By the time I doubled back and found the guys (who were somewhat spread out today due to the CONSTANT rolling hills), the lightning and thunder were hitting at the same time. The bad thing was, we were in the thick of the tiny Ozark mountain roads, and the turn-offs are few, the roads are narrow and winding, and it therefore took me another mile before I could find a place to turn the van around. Once that was accomplished, it was another 2 miles back toward them and then beyond, before I found a safe place with a decent shoulder to park the van. The rain was heavy and the lightning/thunder quite frequent before all three guys were in the van safely.

That was basically the highlight of the "riding" part of our day. We covered 78 miles between Eminence and Bismarck, all on very narrow, twisty, hilly roads. The guys were pretty grumpy after today......not because of the physical aspect of the ride, but the mental one. The roads we were on today had a fairly high traffic flow, and were full of drivers who either didn't care about the safety of bicycle riders (therefore buzzing them as they passed), or didn't care about their own safety, passing in the opposite lane totally "blind" to the oncoming traffic coming over the hills or around the curves. And let me tell you....though the territory is beautiful, the roads are some of the narrowest ones I've been on thus far in the trip. And if that wasn't enough, Steve said that they also endured several drivers yelling bad things at them, as well as a few dog chases.

Tonight we are staying at Traditions Inn in Farmington, Missouri......about 10 miles ahead on the route. So, tomorrow morning I will drive them back to the starting point in Bismarck. I will say that all moods were lifted when we checked in today....for a great price, we have one of the best, if not THE BEST, rooms yet. Huge and spacious, and really very nice. Also, laundry facilities, workout rooms, restaurants, and breakfasts on site! Yippee!

Also, sorry about the pictures (or lack thereof) lately. Missouri looks very similar to Ohio when we are out in the open, and during the times when we are in the hilly, forestry terrain, I am too busy trying to manipulate the van to get any good pictures. The kids have tried to take some for me, but when the vehicle is moving, they aren't the greatest! One good thing we can count on....Bobby and his naps! Until tomorrow....


Bobby and His Bananas Squeezing in a Nap