|
Buy domains ::: Monetize domains |
MENU
|
Day 47 - July 24 - Farmington, MO to Chester, IL - 49 miles Click on the thumbnails to view larger pictures.
|
|
|
|
| With the Ozarks, heat, and humidity we decided on a shorter
day today. Chester, IL was our destination. We were sorry to
leave Kansas with it's friendly people, but Missouri was a different
story. A combination of the gut busting Ozarks and impatient
motorists had us looking forward to Illinois.
The ride today had more hills than we expected. In fact, parts of it compared in difficulty to our second day in the Ozarks. We met a father and son from Holland heading west, as well as Billy from Virginia Beach going in the same direction. His father had started with him in Virginia, but abandoned the trip early. Billy has hopes his father will rejoin him in Kansas after he got through the tough hills. The last 5 miles in Missouri were perfectly flat. Riders coming from the east sure get the wrong impression of Missouri with an introduction like that. Missouri should put a sign next to it's welcome sign. "Caution, hilly terrain ahead!" It wasn't long till we could see the Mississippi River bridge, and then a short time later we were standing on that bridge taking pictures. There it was, the Mighty Mississippi, one of the world's greatest rivers. Old Man River that begins as a tiny brook in Minnesota and empties into the Gulf of Mexico 2,350 miles later. We expected it to be bigger than it was. We've been very fortunate with good weather during the trip. Rainy weather takes it's toll on the bicycles and aids in the accumulation of grime. Our bikes have stayed relatively clean, but we took advantage of the short day today and cleaned them and lubed the chains. Afterwards we had a filling meal at the all you can eat Pizza Hut buffet. With full stomachs and clean bikes we're ready to call it quits for today. |
|
