Thursday, 5/25/17

So today is actually the 12th day.  I counted wrong yesterday.  Today was a challenge as I expected.  Ended up going 70 miles, but only 23 of that was big hills.  From now on, it is all hills, all of the time.  When I talked with people from Ash Grove (where I am staying) and told them I was bushed from today, they just gave each other a "look" that said - "just wait".  
     Lately the agriculture has either been pasture for cattle or some kind of grain.  Today we finally got some CORN.   The interesting thing about today's fields is that many of them were not fenced.  I assume that means they will never have livestock in them.
      Road kill report  - 1 rabbit, 1 armadillo, 1 snake, 2 adult turtles, 1 teeny tiny baby turtle, and a mouse that was still in the jaws of its capturing cat.  I put it in the road kill category, because the cat was running down the road with the mouse in his mouth.
      The wildlife moment of the day came early.  It was foggy.  Several deer meandered across the road fairly close to where I was pedaling.
      The big challenge today was that there were no stops for food. I am starting to get the hang of how to deal with that, but it is not easy - especially trying to ration the water supply.
       I thought the Kansas drivers were polite.  So far, the Missouri drivers are amazing.  They are very courteous, and give cyclists lots of room.
       Stopped at an implement dealer to get some rest and shade under their overhang.  Started a conversation with a farmer who was coming out of the main building.  Turns out he and his wife spent 7 years working in Yellowstone during the summer.  They spent the summers in Yellowstone and the winters  in the Florida Keys working for the same organization in different national park areas. When it came time to have kids, they moved to Missouri to start farming.
       Tonight I am staying in a bicycle hostel run by the city of Ash Grove.  At other times it serves as a community hall.  There are showers, a kitchen, and cots to sleep on.  The people here have been friendly and generous.  To top it all off, there is a nice grocery store in town. Til next time.

Comments

  1. UnknownJune 17, 2017 at 6:15 PM

    I have fallen behind on posting on your blogs. This is s luxury you can afford sitting in a recliner at home. If you do that you will never make it out of Missouri.

    ReplyDelete

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