Today we rode in typical Missouri terrain...hilly.  We've had conflicting reports about today's climbing...one source says about 1800 feet of climbing and another says 4055 feet.  We were probably somewhere in between those extremes but closer to 4000 it seemed.  We also reached the half way point of our ride down the river.  The ride to the Cape has about everything for everybody.  The distance was moderate at 67 miles; the terrain was hilly, then flat, then hilly again; the weather was perfect during the morning departure and into the afternoon: warm, overcast, light winds.  The roads were highways, then country roads, then bike path.  We got it all today.  All in all it was a super day as we approach the end of our stay in Missouri. 

We started out with a hardy breakfast at the Family Inn Diner.  We know we are getting into the south when grits are the mainstay for a breakfast buffet, but our breakfast consisted of a variety of items that would satisfy even the most finicky palate...especially if you were from the south.  The riders experienced their first real taste of southern food where the 4 major food groups are salt, sugar, fat, and grease...Oh, I almost forgot the 5th major food group, Grits.  In spite of that, everyone ate their fill and was ready to put in another day in the saddle.  

I announced a 7:00 load since the distance was under 70 miles.  Again, there were people milling around the van 15 minutes prior, but the staff managed to stay low profile until the appointed loading time.  But like always, when we opened the doors of the van, the bags started flying.  At 7:15 we were looking at an empty parking lot and hustling to get on the road with the support.

We use this location every year and you could still see the paint from last year plus the year before.  I'm running out of places to mark the road that is close enough to a place where we can get off the road with the bikes and vans.  The riders keep asking me if there are any more hills...look at the photo above left and tell me if you see any hills...looks flat to me.  I've been trying to tell them that today was a flat ride...now I have a picture to prove it.

The first few miles today were dropping from our motel, but when they got to about 9 miles out, the terrain got really hilly...the Missouri short, steep hills.  However, when we got over the crest of the ridgeline, the view of the valley below was spectacular even with the morning haze that obscured the farthest points...in any case the descent was tremendous!  As I departed this morning the steam was rising out of the soybeans and when the sun peeked out it glistened off of the heavy dew that adorned the pastures.  The songbirds were singing and enjoying the final days of summer while the riders filed by singing songs of their own.  Once in the valley, the roads flattened out and the riders enjoyed some flat land for a few miles.

Actually, it had been flat for the last 5 miles before the half way photo op and would remain so for about another 6 or so...then it would get very strenuous again until the SAG.  After 36 miles, the terrain was still rolling but not nearly as hilly as the early morning.  Stephen is beginning to dread getting to the flat terrain tomorrow.  I think he'll probably lose lots of sleep worrying about not being able to climb over 3000 feet on his Bachetta in a day.  Seems his "lounge chair" bike doesn't do well in this type of terrain.  Someone even asked me this morning if I missed any hills while laying out this route...sorry, there was only so much space for Missouri when they were making the map so they had to squeeze it in between Illinois and Kansas.  It was originally the size of Texas before they stuffed it into the area where it is today...thus the ripples in the terrain.

Everyone moved along really well today with little or no mechanical problems other than Topper who's pedal exploded about 3 miles after lunch.  I got a call from Brantley that Topper had broken down so I sent Barb forward with her van to take care of the problem.  I asked her to give Topper her pedals off her bike since they were similar to his and he was soon on his way with replacement pedals and looking for the bike shop on our route to repair or pick up a new set of pedals. 

This group is starting to bond well and we enjoy them more and more every day.  Tomorrow we eat at Cracker Barrel before departure for Union City (another restaurant where if something died, it gets fried).  We have 94 miles of mixed terrain and a ferry ride across the river to enjoy.  Finally, our flatlanders will have something to rejoice about.  Tune in tomorrow for the blow by blow.  M