Day 19
Love this weather...it must be summer time.

I think just about everyone was pretty proud of themselves for their accomplishment yesterday.  Today's challenge is nothing compared to yesterday, but it is a pretty strenuous day in itself...at least the first 60 miles.  As advertised, the first part of today's ride was similar to yesterday with many hills to negotiate and hills in Missouri are pretty steep in some areas.  The one saving grace was the nice tailwinds we had early...albeit light, they were welcome.  Tired legs from yesterday were made energetic with the nice boost down the road.  By the 60 mile point, the terrain mellowed out a bit and by the time they crossed the river, the last 25 miles became checker board flat and had a little quartering tailwind until town. 

Our first SAG was in Baring MO; a town that showed signs of prosperity in the past, but now is only a service station, a set of railroad tracks, a few houses, and a small cafe to service the residents.  We park right beside an old hotel that must have served the railroad some time ago...I didn't see much else that would support a hotel this size.  The riders were a hit as the residents from the senior citizen's home from across the street all came over to welcome us and wish us well.  A local county reporter came by to interview us and see what we were up to.  A big happening around here...we doubled the population while we were there.

Even though our route is a bit hilly through here, it is great to be out in the county away from the busy highways.  We are in Amish territory and we encountered several families riding down the road in their buggies and farming the old way.  They represent a time much less complicated than we live in today...sometimes I long for those times when life was simpler...maybe we could all learn from their way of life.

Baring was the only small town on our route until we arrived in Canton where we crossed the river on the ferry.  Three years ago a tornado came through a day or two ahead of us and completely destroyed several sections of the town.  You could still signs of the destruction, but most of the damaged areas were either reconstructed or razed.  The town was a welcomed sight though...not much civilization out here except the farmers and livestock.

We had our lunch SAG at the ferry in Canton.  The riders didn't spend much time there since most wanted to get in early so it was a quick meal and then get on the barge.  I think it's a hoot to see the river up close and personal on the ferry instead of crossing the river by bridge.  Here there are no cars to harass you for being in their way...even the trucker, that was on the ferry with us, gave us a friendly wave as we set sail for "a three hour tour...♫a three hour tour♫."  I think if the barge would have been named the USS Minnow, I'd felt a little apprehensive.  But we all got across without incident and then enjoyed the flat roads into town.

When we got into Quincy, our route took us out of downtown on Maine Street.  This is one of my favorite residential areas on the whole trip as it is lined with "Old Money" homes.  I've always admired the architecture and it runs for several blocks and for a few blocks either side.  I'm not sure what style they are, but it's probably a mix...impressive whatever it is.

It was another rather early finish today...they needed it after yesterday.  It will be good to get a longer time to recover for tomorrow's ride into Springfield.  We're supposed to have sunshine but unfavorable winds tomorrow...it should be a good but maybe tough day!!!  See you then.