Some more distance - Summersville to Hartville

Lunch. Yum.

We managed to recover pretty well with all the catfish and sleep. Thus, once we were out of the Ozark Rivers (which were the same teal color as the Buffalo in Arkansas), we were feeling a ton better on the rolling hills that were still at some elevation (around 1500 here). We got out of Summersville early, made it to Houston by 10. Got a second breakfast and tried to get mail (hadn't arrived, so we forwarded whatever may come). We were heading for Bendavis, but we got there early, and the one store (which was also the one place to camp) was closed. This also meant that our lunches consisted of snickers and cliff bars. We took another 17-20 miles to get to Hartville for a grand total of 66 miles. It was mostly rolling, with a few hills, though none as steep as the ones in the Ozarks (a semi-reliable source says there were some 17-24% grade hills there). The day was perfect for riding though. It started out with 20 miles in a cool, overcast mist, and then, we had about 10 miles with clouds, 10 miles with sun and no wind, and 20 miles with sun and wind. A ton of trucks with horse trailers passed us on this ride and the ride through the Ozarks, but the drivers in this part of Missouri are generally better to be on the road with. In other words, I didn't think I was about to die every 4 minutes. Yay. We got to Hartville, didn't like the look of the courthouse lawn, so went to a town park by a lake. There was a group of trucks chillin and playing music, a group of trucks there for a coon dog trial (no Louisa, alack), and a little girl who was determined to tell me about the 5 sheep who she was goiong to have when she grew up. They were going to eat orange juice and milk out of bike bottles, but they would still be thirsty. The story kinda made my night. The coon dogs were awesome, and after showing (think AKC meets hoedown) the dogs, they went off somewhere to see how many coons the dogs could tree. We set up our tent, as did another cyclist doing sections of the transam, and I got to sleep in short order. A thunderstorm came in around 5am, so we got up and attached the fly. I was pretty happy with the day though; the legs felt great.

The Ozarks - I guess they are real hills

We got up in Ellington thinking we had 70 miles in us for the day. Ate some oatmeal, drank some water, and headed off into the mountains. We had 30 miles before a resupply point, and we were traveling through the Ozark National Scenic Riverways area. It was gorgeous, but we were getting our butts kicked. We both bonked multiple times before making Eminence - the town at the 30 mile point. The think about seeing scenic rivers is that you climb a ridge, then descend to the river, then climb the next ridge. Continue that pattern for a while, and ya start getting a little tired. It was a warm day out, with less wind than we needed, and we worked pretty hard to get 45-50 miles to Summersville. There was one OJ stop that had 40 hummingbirds visiting something like 6 feeders on the porch. Twas insane, but awesome. I had my second mini-crash going up a hellacious hill from one of the rivers (by the town of Alley Spring), when I shifted and my gears didn't. The road was steeply banked, and I couldn't get my foot unclipped in time, so I fell over sideways going about 2mph to the amusement of a car coming my way and another a bit behind me. Just a few bruises, but since it was at the bottom of the hill, I got to push my loaded bike up a crazy steep hill. There was only one really good view of the mountains, but it was lovely and forrested. Just sad that we were struggling and bypassing so many canoe/tube rental spots on the birthday. I'll get over it soon. We did get plenty of catfish for lunch and dinner and got to sleep in a cozy little place in Summersville.

Farmington to Ellington

This is where we sleep about an eighth of the time

Fallen trees and messed up gears on a hill

Missouri drivers east of the Ozarks are jerks (and yes, that is censored from what I actually think of them). The truckers here are a heck of a lot sketchier than anything in Kentucky, and I just don't enjoy feeling the draft of an 18-wheeler sucking me in toward the very large wheels. I'm also not a fan of being cussed out by 70-year-old couples driving tan Buicks. Or being honked at, swerved toward, yelled at, or driven off the road. But between the point where we crossed into Missouri and Ellington, that's exactly what happened. We took a 68ish mile day out of Farmington (where we had an awesome Hawaiian shaved ice, an useful doctor's visit - yay inhalers, and a good night's sleep) into the beginnings of the Ozarks. The weather was sunny, windy, and good riding weather. There've been a ton of downed trees in Kentucky, Illinois, and Missouri, both from the states trying to get stuff away from the roads and power lines and from recent storms. The rivers in Missouri have looked a ton better than the ones in IL and KY - less muddy, less smelly, more enticing as swimmin' holes. :) We ran into another dad and college kid who were doing a flip-flop on the transam and spent the night with them in the town park in Ellington. Though we were a little tired coming into Ellington, I felt ok for the next day.

Umm.....

So, yesterday was fun. Almost all flat with a few hills toward the end of the day. We stayed on the Mississippi levies for about 40 miles, then climbed into Chester (home of Popeye). Got tasty food and headed for Ozora, Missouri. Totaled around 58 miles, went pretty fast, and aside from the vast quantities of trucks who just weren't ok giving us space, things were good.
Today got up and went over rolling terrain about 30 miles to Farmington, MO. The first 8 miles I was having an asthma attack, and after that subsided, I realized my ear was hurting. Attempts to find a doctor here have thus far been unsuccessful. Yarg. Not sure where we're sleeping tonight; maybe in Farmington. Also not sure when I'll have internet again, but I'll try to fill some stuff in then.

Unintended Zero

Got stuck in Carbondale for the day. I was hoping to get my derailleurs checked out, and the bike shop took a while to get things set, so we're just staying put for the night. Got to spend the day continuing to refresh my legs and hanging out with my mom, though. Yay. But ugggggg. We'll get miles in Kansas soon (I hope). Got pretty new biking shoes at the bike place. They kinda kick butt. Should ride along the Mississippi levies tomorrow into Chester so long as the weather is ok. There are tornados in the region with not much promise for the next few days. Eek.

Catch up Time

These people have not seen the Appalachians

The dog that followed us 3 miles

Ok. Finally back within internet range. June 4, we left the lake resort thing and spent the day pedaling through a gentle rain. Seemed like perfect cycling weather for a bit, but I was tired the first third, freezing the second, and beyond cold and tired (but determined to make it in to Utica, KY) the final third. We totaled 50ish miles, and our average speed was a couple mph higher than normal. I, for one, was sprinting up hills in my big ring desperately trying to stay warm the last 30 miles or so. The downhills (+ wind) were killer, and even with my shell, I was pretty chilly. The area was pretty nice (rolling hills, fields, forest - kinda standard), but I wasn't paying all that much attention. Spent the night in the fire station in Utica. I slept wonderfully (only one call that night), and we had a ton of oreos before bed, which is probably how I managed the next day.
Two days ago, we took off from Utica and made it 83 miles to Illinois (Cave-in-Rock). The rain cooled things off, so we had a glorious cool, sunny, breezy day. When we got to Marion, KY, the planned stopping point of the day, we reloaded with some ice cream, and rolled 12 more miles to the ferry across the Ohio River. I like ferrys. They're darned awesome, and it always feels great to be in a boat on a river. Terrain was a little flatter, and our average speeds were still up. Cave in Rock is a pretty interesting place; there is, as the name might suggest, a giant cave that pirates used to attack vessels on the Ohio. Anyhoo, I was worn out after 83 miles, and thus at least attempted to pass out at the state park shortly after finishing dinner.
Yesterday we took a 65 mile day to meet up with the others in the immediate fam outside of Carbondale. I started out the day pretty well hyponatremic - caught it early, popped an electrolyte tablet in my water bottle, and got better. My legs were still pretty tired from the day before, but I figure that my legs will put up with nearly anything I can dole out. The first three miles of the day we were accompanied by an adorable stray beagle. He sprinted up the hills to pass us and down the hills (even as we were losing him). If he had made it 10-15 miles, I would be taking him to Wisconsin with me. It was forested riding in the morning (lots of deer and coyotes), with a couple hills in the morning, and one steep one in the afternoon. We also got to see the Tunnel Hill Rail to Trail (kinda like the Va Creeper), which provided an excellent, shady break. The main thing that kept me going was the promise of my mom and sister showing up later in the evening. We got good food, some hang out time, and life was good.
This morning, we got up and rode about 35 miles through Carbondale to Murphysboro. Spent the afternoon doing useful things (like laundry) and chilling. Definately got some sun yesterday, though. We have finished the 3rd of 12 map sets, and we'll have Missouri and their Ozarks before we get into Kansas. There's probably interesting stuff that I'm forgetting. Didn't get laptop access til late though, so I'll get off and fill in gaps later. Tomorrow will be filled with Mississippi levies. Wahoo.

Of Biking, Golf Courses, and Bourbon

Still have these floating aroundLincoln's Birthplace (now in a giant memorial building)

Getting in (pre-rain)Rain view

Gorgeous

This morning

Hot weather = salt crystals appear on skin

Old Kentucky Home (house of some business dude that Stephen Foster may have visited once)

Kentucky has many things to offer. There are mountains (known as "coal" by the locals), numerous scenic areas and state parks (these are called "golf courses" by outsiders like us), lots of places to get fine whiskey (we were within 20 miles of the Maker's Mark, Jim Beam, and Heaven Hill distilleries and I still haven't had a drink), and a ton of friendly (cough) household pets (known to bicyclists as "loose dogs" or "Halt targets"). They also have a creation museum (omfg). Two days ago, we did spend a zero in Bardstown. We got to see My Old Kentucky Home State Park, which was less than spectacular but did get us outside, and I then took my dad to see Up. We're still making movie-related jokes. Twas good. :) We tried to go to the Bourbon Heritage Center to get their free tour and tasting, but it isn't open on Mondays. No bueno. After that, we just hung out at the library until they kicked us out. Found a pretty good book on immigration; hopefully, I'll be able to continue it at the next library we get to.
Tuesday, dad got in to see the dentist and got his tooth taken care of. (YAY!!! We don't have to get off the trail for two weeks!!!!) However, that left us getting out of town at noon, and the temperatures were already up around 90. We made it 47 miles over some gentle bluegrass terrain, with one climb (over the Knobs and out of the center of Kentucky), one rack problem, and 4 flats (all on the same tire - ugg). It was hot, and the flats weren't much fun, but all in all, twas a surprisingly good day. We got in to a questionable hotel right as some rain was coming in, then snacked and crashed. Slept pretty well for being so sketch.
Today we woke up outside of Buffalo, KY, visited the National Lincoln Birthplace thing, and headed down the road another 57 miles. We hit one large patch of rain near Sonora, and though we attempted to wait it out, it was still raining after an hour-long second breakfast break. We got out of the rain within a half hour, and spent the rest of the day attempting to dry off. At lunch we ran into a guy at a gas station with a 10 commandments shirt who spent time telling us that he didn't agree with Obama, abortion, or gay marriage, and I found myself a little more scared when he started talking about how Roy Moore should be in the supreme court (for non-Alabama folk, this guy is a douche and a horrible, horrible judge). And the gas station guy votes. :( Anyhoo. We do meet all sorts of characters out here. Pre-rain, we biked through this gorgeous, misty set of meadows, and post-rain, there seemed to be a lot of separated rollers. Fun day to be on a bike. We're at a state park resort right by a lake for the night, and we couldn't have had more perfect timing to get in. By the time I was out of the shower, it was absolutely pouring outside, and the lake view we had out the back was pretty well concealed by the rain. (Add in thunder/lightening, and I was thrilled to be inside.) Ooh - also today, we crossed into central time and reached our 1000 mile mark (hurray!!!!). Woot for us. We're planning on making Carbondale, IL by Sunday night, so have plenty of 50+ mile days between now and then. As such, I shall go to sleep soon. Life is awesome.