miles: 54, Riding Time: 4hrs, Average: 13.21mph
We get a good start at 7:40 and are eager to enter a new state when 5 miles down the road Martha gets a flat. A big pointy rock stuck in her tire. No problem, it is a great day. Bill shows off the Show Me State Sign.
Along the way we see the beautiful big white mushrooms that we have been passing for day. A testament to all the rain that this area had received this season. And Bill takes a ride on a tractor but he isn't getting far. Western Missouri looks a lot like Eastern Kansas and we feel we are still in KS with it's rolling terrain, farmland, silos and wind.
Then, suddenly we are back in Kansas for real! Oh, no! We were riding along merrily when we stopped to look at the cutest goats, several of which were looking quite cozy in a trough that seemed to be completely comfortable for them. We take several pictures and Kit wonders if she can get one on the back of her bike as we take off on the road again.
Then it hit, Kit's bike started going, chur-clunk, chur-clunk. Kit makes several lame attempts to correct the problem which is obviously in the chain but nothing works. Just as we get out the cell phone (thank goodness for cell phones!) to call Bill, he drives up. So we load bikes and head back to Pittsburg which has the only bike shop for miles around. The problem is the chain and it doesn't take long to fix but while waiting Kit and Martha try out some new recumbent bikes for possible trade in. Notice that Kit's has a front head lamp!
Then it hit, Kit's bike started going, chur-clunk, chur-clunk. Kit makes several lame attempts to correct the problem which is obviously in the chain but nothing works. Just as we get out the cell phone (thank goodness for cell phones!) to call Bill, he drives up. So we load bikes and head back to Pittsburg which has the only bike shop for miles around. The problem is the chain and it doesn't take long to fix but while waiting Kit and Martha try out some new recumbent bikes for possible trade in. Notice that Kit's has a front head lamp!
Back on the road we pass some funky "buildings" that remind us of the Taos area. If you can't tell from the photo, there are shot gun holes in the FORD sign and the small rectangular sign says "Thief's Beware of Mad Owner.
We also pass many old silos that are in disrepair and some, like this old one, with vines growing on them or even trees growing out of them. This farmer must be doing pretty well however as he has a new metal silo right next to it. We also pass many churches, but this one is probably the most unique. We wonder if the services are given by a pastor on horseback?
The terrain gets more undulating and there are starting to become some challenging hills. We realize this is just the beginning of the famous Ozark Hills. Happily we finally arrive at our nights rest. The air conditioned cottage at Running Springs Farm and Preserve where Bill, our congenial host, has an upland bird hunting operation but also caters to trans american bicyclist.
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