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Day 31
If you like a roller coaster...you'll like Missouri!  Happy 4th!

ROUTE:  St Joe to Chillicothe MO DISTANCE: 92 miles WINDS: Light and variable
WEATHER: Wet to start, sunny and 85 TERRAIN: Hilly TOTAL CLIMBING: 3200 feet

DAILY DOINGS: Yawn...gotta get up this morning and get back to the grind of riding bicycles across the country.  Really enjoyed the day yesterday even though it stormed from time to time.  We don't mind when it rains and we are in a motel...Bring it on!!!  All night, however, the thunder kept clapping and the rain fell upon our route, but when we arrived for breakfast, the skies were starting to clear and the rain abated.  By the time we got on the road, the streets were still a bit wet and the air was thick with moisture, but the rain had moved out...we were in for a perfect day of weather. 

I was scheduled to ride to day, but I wanted to get a few photos early in the day plus I strained my back during mechanics when we arrived in St Joe.  I went to a chiropractor on our day off...feeling a bit better this morning, but I wanted to move around a little before trying to ride.  As it worked out, I felt better riding than walking but getting on and off the bike was a little slow.  I think I'll be fine in a day or two.  Meanwhile, I'll take it easy and ride when I can.  Karen has been using the excuse (my back hurts, I can't drive the van) for a couple years now...she says she needs to ride more often to work it out.  Now I know where she's coming from, I really did feel better riding.

Our route today took us out of St Joe on highway 6 through Maysville to Jamesport.  The terrain was hilly to say the least with short steep pop ups one right after another for miles and miles.  Most of the hills were no more than 30 to 40 feet high, but after a hundred or so of them, you find yourself getting a bit leg weary.  Luckily, the riders could get a head of steam on most of them to get them half way up the other side before losing momentum.  There were times when you could see the tops of a dozen hills in front or behind you...fun type of riding.  We've had several riders with bottom trouble from all the flat stages we had for awhile.  On those days, you just sit and grind the pedals all day.  With the hills, you get to stand up from time to time to relieve the pressure on your bottom.  I much prefer to ride hills than flats all the time.  I think even the Florida girls are starting to enjoy the climbs...or maybe not.

Jamesport is a small Amish community.  As we rode through, we got a sense of how life was years ago as they still do most of their work with horses and do all their travel by buggy.  They lead a very simple life...makes one envious in our helter-skelter world of today.  The best part of riding through town was the Dutch bakery right in the middle of downtown...a must stop.  Karen and I stopped and had the best piece of blackberry pie and ice cream.  It was so good I took Barb a piece while she was a mile away manning the SAG stop.  It's real tempting to buy them out of pies, cookies, and homemade pastries...there's nothing they make that isn't gooOOood!

After Jamesport we got off highway 6 and started riding out in the country...lineless roads that meandered through the countryside along small farm plots and manicured lawns.  Karen and I just spun the pedals enjoying the scenery all morning and still got in before 2:00 PM after 92 miles. 

Surprised we didn't see any memorial day parades in the small towns we rode through.  There are fireworks in Chillicothe tonight but they will be after most of us are in bed.  Tomorrow is another ride day for us...80 some to Kirksville and more Missouri hills to do...more than today I think.  So I'd better clear out for today and get some sleep myself...I'm riding again tomorrow...back's too sore to drive the van.  At least that's what I'm telling Karen.  See you tomorrow.  M

PS:  Happy 80th Birthday Dad...enjoyed talking to you this afternoon. 

DAILY DISCERNING DIALOGUE:

"Isn't there a different way to Chillicothe?"
"Yep, the hilly way."

"I didn't sign up for hills."
"Sorry, they just come with the roads."

"My derailleur is going click, click, click."
"Are you sure it's not your knees?"

"Today was one of the best roller coasters I've ever been on."

"What goes up...must come down.  Unless you are in Missouri."

"I didn't say, "Show me the hills."

"Did you hear what happened in the tour today?"
"No."
"George Hincapie is third overall.  I don't know the details or how many are in the top 10."
"If I had to guess, Debbie, I'd say 10." 

DAILY DUH:

Just couldn't resist a challenge to claim territory.

 

I've probably made better decisions.

 

DAILY DIGITAL DELIGHTS

In light of all the drug allegations in cycling, Marc volunteered a sample to be tested before today's ride.  It turned out he was free of any performance enhancing elements unless you count grease remover.

Alan, Mike, Bill, and Mary were all eyeing the motor bikes outside our motel and thinking..."These would make the hills go by a lot easier."  Sorry folks, I don't see "TREK" on the side of any of those bikes.

We're always running into strange characters in funny clothes while on the road...I'll bet you're not sure who I'm talking about in this photo are you.

Around these small Amish towns we have to be careful where we ride...brings a whole new meaning to the word "pollution"...smell too. 

Geeze...I can't even get them to notice "AB" directional arrows when DOT puts them on the road. 

After also missing the AB sign, we made Sue take a volunteer eye exam.  She could identify which way the E was pointing, but she complained of seeing double.

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