After a down day because of high winds and rain, I left Louisiana yesterday on a glorious morning, headed south and west with the goal, Troy, MO, a distance on my map of just over 50 miles. The route would take me along the Mississippi River for about 10 miles and then in Clarksville, turn south-westerly through Paynesville and New Hope along state routes W and KK, picking up state route 47 and south into Troy.
It was at the same time, the most beautiful part of the ride so far, and by far, the most difficult. The challenge was again the hills and for most of the ride, they were relentless. The topographical indicators on my maps indicate elevations as high as 750', with numerous elevations at 500' and one along the way at 1250'. Now, the country roads do not always go that high, but on several occasions, I think 3, I was higher than anything else around except for microwave transmission towers usually placed on the highest elevation around. Today I only got off the bike twice to walk to the top of the hill! Maybe by the time I finish this journey I will be able to conquer any hill in my way. I hope so.
By way of example, as I remember, the hill where the "Hollywood" sign is placed in Los Angeles is somewhere just in excess of 1000' of elevation and the highest point in Palos Verdes at Crest Rd, I believe is 1200'. The one thing I do not know is what the elevation of the Mississippi River is but in any event, it was a day of up and down, up and down and up and down.
The good news is it was not windy and the really good news is that along the way, the land is beautiful. It is spring out here and everything is in bloom. Most of the fields where grass is being grown have growth 6" to 8" high, the trees are in full in every color of green you can imagine and most of the farms have some sort or another of garden just showing their first spring growth.
Lots of small to middle sized creeks cross under the roads and all are full with the spring run-off from this very wet spring out here. It is, all in all, a beautiful way to experience life on back country roads and small towns through this region.
There are no pictures for this posting, for you would tire of pictures of hills after hills and if there were sound with the pictures, you would hear something like, "You gotta be sh..&%$#*ing me", not another one! Of course, no one was around to hear me, so it helped to express myself and not offend anyone.
My speech to the cows a couple of days ago must have been telegraphed to brothers and sisters along the way, for there were several times when I found gangs of cows crowding the fence lines waiting to hear my take on things. Sorry guys, not today. Too many hills to climb.
Worth noting. More and more I am reminded of the kindness of people to total strangers. I stopped in on a farm to ask directions and not only did Mary get me headed in the right direction, she offered me a cold coke and introduced me to her boss, Bob Ritter, the owner of Sunnyview Gardens and Greenhouse, just north of Troy. If you need a truck load of shrubs or flowers, stop in and see them. The coke was ice cold and the directions got me into town. Thanks guys.
The weather forecast for today is thundershowers late in the day so my goal is to be in Washington, MO, about 45 miles from here through more HILLS by mid-afternoon.
The adventure goes on, people continue to amaze with their kindness, the scenery is, beautiful and peaceful, if not strenuous and thanks to all who call to remind me that I am missed, loved and wished for a continued safe journey.
Matt, your work back in Jamaica in the Peace Corps is greatly admired by all and you are learning much as well as giving much. Dave and Stephanie, welcome home from your honeymoon. It sounds like a great time away before returning home to begin life together.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Hannibal to Louisiana, MO
33 Miles today, much less than I am hoping will be my daily average of 50.
Just some housekeeping information before I leave Hannibal. If you ever go to Hannibal and go to the Mark Twain Coffee Shop for breakfast, make sure you DON'T order the 4 pancake stack for breakfast! I should have asked before doing so, but each pancake is the size of a waffle. 2 would be enough to feed a family and I hated to leave all that food but just way too much to eat.
So with a full stomach I rode south from town, over the bridge and around the turn to face the first of what would be 10 or more of the most challenging hills of the trip.
This is NOT what you want to see with a stomach full of pancakes and no time to have even gotten warmed up for the day. That is a big mutha hill.
It almost broke my resolve, for pedaling up and down those kind of hills is reserved for really young people who emulate Lance Armstrong. I think of my sons Steve and Dave back in Los Angeles who ride these kinds of hills all the time. They are inspirational! With them in mind, I made it though, and all the others, only walking part way on 3 of the worst. Maybe by the time I'm done with this ride I can get up them all, but not this morning. Today though, sore legs, sore legs, sore legs.
It would be a very challenging day because not only were there lots of those kinds of hills, there was almost all day, a strong southerly wind blowing, (I think the precursor of last night and today's very rainy and windy storm), which really puts a damper on pedaling up and down against what seems like an invisible hand pressed against one's forehead. It is discouraging to struggle to the top of one of these hills only to have to pedal DOWNHILL because the wind is so strong.
It would seem that wind might be a constant up here.
Appropriate name for a street on top of one of these hills.
Here's some highlights of the day.
Another "Road Closed" road sign on highway 57, my route for the day and miles from nowhere, which turned out this time to be passable.
Not what you want to see miles from nowhere. Luckily the local sheriff, whose number I had, allowed that there was a way for a bicycle to get through. Thank you Sheriff!I found my way around it!
The reason for all the fuss, and the reason there were no cars on the road today. That drop-off is a vertical fall of about 50 feet. Not what you want to experience on a dark night in your car.
Further along on the deserted highway I was able to give an election speech to a group of cows, promising them that if elected, I would not allow them to be served up in some MacDonald's somewhere. I don't think they thought I had a chance of winning but were willing to listen to my speech.
As you can see, the guy in front whispering something in the ear of his buddy about all politicians being alike...and finally, by the end of the caucus, my audience had shrunk.
Sighted in order, several eagles perched high up on the rock cliffs in trees or soaring above the countryside,(no, I am not roadside kill, so you can go away), a beautiful red fox who watched my pedal by from a safe distance, a turtle trying to get across the road, (if cars on that road, the turtle would be history).
Where I rescued the turtle. I drove by, had second thoughts about him/her/it, turned around and placed it in the grass on the side of the road it was facing. See if you can see him/her/it in the grass along the highway. Also note the flooded fields. The Mississippi River is over there past the tree line. For just a few minutes at this spot, I enjoyed the quietness, the view and thoughts of friends at home.
And finally of the animal nature, passed by several dogs as I was struggling up hill, all of whom let me know they owned the road and I was forewarned of that fact. Counter intuitively, I stopped pedaling and called out to the dogs to "Stop barking, I am a friend." One of them was a hound of some sort, a couple of the lab genre and a couple more just plain old mutts. Once I stopped riding, all the fun seemed to go out of it for them and they walked away slowly, looking over their shoulders once in a while and giving a final bark or two just to keep me honest and disappeared back down the dirt lane.
Highlights of the human kind were Dan the 83 year old farmer out working on Saturday afternoon mowing his expansive front lawn and shoring up a culvert lined with rocks which seemed to have caved in. He was busy bent over piling stones back into place. He didn't have much to say except that "today was not a very good day so far and he hoped tomorrow would be better.
Unique to Dan was his hat. If you remember any old WWII movie where John Wayne or Robert Taylor was flying against the enemy hoard in P 38 fighter aircraft, those same hats they wore were what farmer Dan had on. His was on his head slightly crooked which made the whole conversation a little surreal. I wanted to ask him about it, but he seemed intent on working so I pedaled on.
Down the road a ways was this house looking just like it needed a good Realtor. I gave them the names of my good friends and terrific Realtors, Kerry Franze and Jeanine and Ron Van De Velde, former associates of mine still in the Barrington, IL office of Coldwell Banker. Hope they call guys and no referral fee necessary!
"Quaint Farm House located on large tract of land. Dirt driveway included. 3Br, 1 Ba with air conditioning. Lots of Extra.
This picture speaks for itself. As I entered Louisiana, Mo., an auction which usually is not good news, as in this case, grown children disposing of their parent's home and furnishings after their recent removal to a nursing home.
There are no smiles in this audience and if you can see the look on the face of the little blond girl in the foreground, it pretty well sums up the emotions of the gathered friends and curious onlookers.
Last highlight is the B & B I stayed in overnight. The Eagle's Nest Winery, owned and run by Karen Stoecklley and her artist husband John. What a fabulous little hideaway in Louisiana, MO. If you are reading this within driving distance of this small town, come have a terrific meal, visit their wine shop and have a great dinner and breakfast. (Breakfast included in the price, dinner extra).
Click on this link to visit for yourselves. http://www.theeaglesnest-louisana.com
Finally, checked in at the Eagle's Nest, I rode down to the river on what had become a dark, cold and windy afternoon. No one around but me and as I listened very carefully, I could faintly hear Tina Turner singing "Big Wheel" with all the energy and excitement of this grand River and her rendition of that great song. A perfect ending for a long day.
We've made it this far.
Finally, finally, its Mother's Day. Happy Mother's day to all you moms, step-mothers, grandmothers and godmothers who work so hard to provide so much for your families. Hope flowers, a card and a swell meal are on tap for you today.
It rained hard, and blew harder here last night and today, with wind advisories for this part of Missouri to be in place until the end of Mother's Day tonight. Lots of serious tornado damage south of here a few hundred miles. No way to ride a bike in 25-45 mph wind, so staying over one more night before I set out tomorrow on another very difficult hilly portion of this trip. Not sure when I'll next update this, but I will when I can.
Just some housekeeping information before I leave Hannibal. If you ever go to Hannibal and go to the Mark Twain Coffee Shop for breakfast, make sure you DON'T order the 4 pancake stack for breakfast! I should have asked before doing so, but each pancake is the size of a waffle. 2 would be enough to feed a family and I hated to leave all that food but just way too much to eat.
So with a full stomach I rode south from town, over the bridge and around the turn to face the first of what would be 10 or more of the most challenging hills of the trip.
This is NOT what you want to see with a stomach full of pancakes and no time to have even gotten warmed up for the day. That is a big mutha hill.
It almost broke my resolve, for pedaling up and down those kind of hills is reserved for really young people who emulate Lance Armstrong. I think of my sons Steve and Dave back in Los Angeles who ride these kinds of hills all the time. They are inspirational! With them in mind, I made it though, and all the others, only walking part way on 3 of the worst. Maybe by the time I'm done with this ride I can get up them all, but not this morning. Today though, sore legs, sore legs, sore legs.
It would be a very challenging day because not only were there lots of those kinds of hills, there was almost all day, a strong southerly wind blowing, (I think the precursor of last night and today's very rainy and windy storm), which really puts a damper on pedaling up and down against what seems like an invisible hand pressed against one's forehead. It is discouraging to struggle to the top of one of these hills only to have to pedal DOWNHILL because the wind is so strong.
It would seem that wind might be a constant up here.
Appropriate name for a street on top of one of these hills.
Here's some highlights of the day.
Another "Road Closed" road sign on highway 57, my route for the day and miles from nowhere, which turned out this time to be passable.
Not what you want to see miles from nowhere. Luckily the local sheriff, whose number I had, allowed that there was a way for a bicycle to get through. Thank you Sheriff!I found my way around it!
The reason for all the fuss, and the reason there were no cars on the road today. That drop-off is a vertical fall of about 50 feet. Not what you want to experience on a dark night in your car.
Further along on the deserted highway I was able to give an election speech to a group of cows, promising them that if elected, I would not allow them to be served up in some MacDonald's somewhere. I don't think they thought I had a chance of winning but were willing to listen to my speech.
As you can see, the guy in front whispering something in the ear of his buddy about all politicians being alike...and finally, by the end of the caucus, my audience had shrunk.
Sighted in order, several eagles perched high up on the rock cliffs in trees or soaring above the countryside,(no, I am not roadside kill, so you can go away), a beautiful red fox who watched my pedal by from a safe distance, a turtle trying to get across the road, (if cars on that road, the turtle would be history).
Where I rescued the turtle. I drove by, had second thoughts about him/her/it, turned around and placed it in the grass on the side of the road it was facing. See if you can see him/her/it in the grass along the highway. Also note the flooded fields. The Mississippi River is over there past the tree line. For just a few minutes at this spot, I enjoyed the quietness, the view and thoughts of friends at home.
And finally of the animal nature, passed by several dogs as I was struggling up hill, all of whom let me know they owned the road and I was forewarned of that fact. Counter intuitively, I stopped pedaling and called out to the dogs to "Stop barking, I am a friend." One of them was a hound of some sort, a couple of the lab genre and a couple more just plain old mutts. Once I stopped riding, all the fun seemed to go out of it for them and they walked away slowly, looking over their shoulders once in a while and giving a final bark or two just to keep me honest and disappeared back down the dirt lane.
Highlights of the human kind were Dan the 83 year old farmer out working on Saturday afternoon mowing his expansive front lawn and shoring up a culvert lined with rocks which seemed to have caved in. He was busy bent over piling stones back into place. He didn't have much to say except that "today was not a very good day so far and he hoped tomorrow would be better.
Unique to Dan was his hat. If you remember any old WWII movie where John Wayne or Robert Taylor was flying against the enemy hoard in P 38 fighter aircraft, those same hats they wore were what farmer Dan had on. His was on his head slightly crooked which made the whole conversation a little surreal. I wanted to ask him about it, but he seemed intent on working so I pedaled on.
Down the road a ways was this house looking just like it needed a good Realtor. I gave them the names of my good friends and terrific Realtors, Kerry Franze and Jeanine and Ron Van De Velde, former associates of mine still in the Barrington, IL office of Coldwell Banker. Hope they call guys and no referral fee necessary!
"Quaint Farm House located on large tract of land. Dirt driveway included. 3Br, 1 Ba with air conditioning. Lots of Extra.
This picture speaks for itself. As I entered Louisiana, Mo., an auction which usually is not good news, as in this case, grown children disposing of their parent's home and furnishings after their recent removal to a nursing home.
There are no smiles in this audience and if you can see the look on the face of the little blond girl in the foreground, it pretty well sums up the emotions of the gathered friends and curious onlookers.
Last highlight is the B & B I stayed in overnight. The Eagle's Nest Winery, owned and run by Karen Stoecklley and her artist husband John. What a fabulous little hideaway in Louisiana, MO. If you are reading this within driving distance of this small town, come have a terrific meal, visit their wine shop and have a great dinner and breakfast. (Breakfast included in the price, dinner extra).
Click on this link to visit for yourselves. http://www.theeaglesnest-louisana.com
Finally, checked in at the Eagle's Nest, I rode down to the river on what had become a dark, cold and windy afternoon. No one around but me and as I listened very carefully, I could faintly hear Tina Turner singing "Big Wheel" with all the energy and excitement of this grand River and her rendition of that great song. A perfect ending for a long day.
We've made it this far.
Finally, finally, its Mother's Day. Happy Mother's day to all you moms, step-mothers, grandmothers and godmothers who work so hard to provide so much for your families. Hope flowers, a card and a swell meal are on tap for you today.
It rained hard, and blew harder here last night and today, with wind advisories for this part of Missouri to be in place until the end of Mother's Day tonight. Lots of serious tornado damage south of here a few hundred miles. No way to ride a bike in 25-45 mph wind, so staying over one more night before I set out tomorrow on another very difficult hilly portion of this trip. Not sure when I'll next update this, but I will when I can.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Quincy to Hannibal.
Left Quincy early this morning. Cold, cold and cold! Within 30 minutes, also raining. Arriving in Hannibal, I decided today was a day to rest my legs, which seem a little sore and heavy. I'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow lots of miles through the Ozarks on lots of hills. Also wanted to find a way to post the pictures I've taken along the way.
Thanks to Judy Carpenter and Harold Smith of the local radio station across the way, I've found a friend in Matt, the young fellow in the computer repair shop. He let me sit at his desk for the past 3 hours and post the pictures. Thanks so much Matt!!
Crossing the Mississippi into Missouri this morning in the rain. A nice wide 8' sholder on the side of the highway made this very safe. Just wet!
The "Official" fence that Tom Sawyer had his friends paint. There are several more around here that are unofficial.
Remember this hotel, Matt Colvin? We stayed here several years ago on our own journey of discovery. My home tonight.
There's supposed to be an art fair down here in old Hannibal and it looks like a good place to dry out from the rain and hang out for the rest of the day. Long day tomorrow and don't know when I'll find another place to upload pictures. Thank you again, Matt Clark of Aloha Technologies for your courtesy.
One last thing. For those of you who noticed I was going from Muscatine back to Davenport, the corrections have been made : > )
Thanks to Judy Carpenter and Harold Smith of the local radio station across the way, I've found a friend in Matt, the young fellow in the computer repair shop. He let me sit at his desk for the past 3 hours and post the pictures. Thanks so much Matt!!
Crossing the Mississippi into Missouri this morning in the rain. A nice wide 8' sholder on the side of the highway made this very safe. Just wet!
The "Official" fence that Tom Sawyer had his friends paint. There are several more around here that are unofficial.
Remember this hotel, Matt Colvin? We stayed here several years ago on our own journey of discovery. My home tonight.
There's supposed to be an art fair down here in old Hannibal and it looks like a good place to dry out from the rain and hang out for the rest of the day. Long day tomorrow and don't know when I'll find another place to upload pictures. Thank you again, Matt Clark of Aloha Technologies for your courtesy.
One last thing. For those of you who noticed I was going from Muscatine back to Davenport, the corrections have been made : > )
Yea! I Found A Friend - Matt - in Hannibal Who Let Me Download Pictures
Pictures are worth a thousand words....finally!
At the start, ready to go, I think!
Carla God Bless her. Asking the question of her husband, "Tell me one more time why you need to do this?" Finding no satisfactory answer again, she left me in Muscatine and drove home...
Harley For Sale. Just 10 miles into the ride, before I've even gotten tired, this temptation! I passed it by, since wondered why!
I'll just throw this picture up from time to time to remind you what the scenery looks like when its sort of flat.
My first night on the road, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Frank and their son Cory.
The tent stayed dry and I was comfortable as I listened to thunder later that evening.
Just down from the Frank farm, early in the morning on the way to Burlington. This Kingston not like Matt's!
Just down the road from Kingston, not what you want to see!!!
No matter how long I stood there and wished for a way across the river, it still left me standing in the mud unable to get to the other side and expletive deleted!
Near the end of a long day, when I was really looking for a cold drink, Oaksville! The post office was closed, the Dairy Queen was long ago out of business and the only convenience store in town had recently had a car go through its front window!
1st crossing of the Mississippi from Burlington to Illinois. You want me to go across there on my bike?
The Mormon Temple in Nauvoo. Prime Real Estate.
This sign, across the street from the Mormon Temple. Go get 'em, catholics!
Just south of Nauvoo along the Mississippi River. You cannot get closer than this!
Hard to get the true feeling of this hill. There were to be 20 of these yesterday between Nauvoo and Quincy.
No Dairy Queens nor Walgreen. No Shell Oil or BP. But all along these back country roads, Casey's is ready to serve.
Something else you don't want to see on a bike. They call them "Rollers". They do!
"You want me to build this house 10' off the ground? What'r you thinking of??
Flooding on the road into Quincy.
Great view from the riverfront in Quincy. My dinner last night just next door!
At the start, ready to go, I think!
Carla God Bless her. Asking the question of her husband, "Tell me one more time why you need to do this?" Finding no satisfactory answer again, she left me in Muscatine and drove home...
Harley For Sale. Just 10 miles into the ride, before I've even gotten tired, this temptation! I passed it by, since wondered why!
I'll just throw this picture up from time to time to remind you what the scenery looks like when its sort of flat.
My first night on the road, courtesy of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Frank and their son Cory.
The tent stayed dry and I was comfortable as I listened to thunder later that evening.
Just down from the Frank farm, early in the morning on the way to Burlington. This Kingston not like Matt's!
Just down the road from Kingston, not what you want to see!!!
No matter how long I stood there and wished for a way across the river, it still left me standing in the mud unable to get to the other side and expletive deleted!
Near the end of a long day, when I was really looking for a cold drink, Oaksville! The post office was closed, the Dairy Queen was long ago out of business and the only convenience store in town had recently had a car go through its front window!
1st crossing of the Mississippi from Burlington to Illinois. You want me to go across there on my bike?
The Mormon Temple in Nauvoo. Prime Real Estate.
This sign, across the street from the Mormon Temple. Go get 'em, catholics!
Just south of Nauvoo along the Mississippi River. You cannot get closer than this!
Hard to get the true feeling of this hill. There were to be 20 of these yesterday between Nauvoo and Quincy.
No Dairy Queens nor Walgreen. No Shell Oil or BP. But all along these back country roads, Casey's is ready to serve.
Something else you don't want to see on a bike. They call them "Rollers". They do!
"You want me to build this house 10' off the ground? What'r you thinking of??
Flooding on the road into Quincy.
Great view from the riverfront in Quincy. My dinner last night just next door!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Day 3. Nauvoo to Quincy 47 Miles
Left 8:30, arrived Quincy at 2:30 with a lunch stop in Ursa, population 595.
Thanks to the very nice lady in the coffee shop in Ursa for guiding me to the River Road for my last 15 miles into Quincy.
Lots of rolling hills, beginning almost immediately after leaving Nauvoo. For a short time, right along side the Mississippi then into those darn hills as the Great River Route turns inward and then across rolling farmland. Wow, I now have ridden across those fields I always looked down on from high in airplanes coming and going. Always wondered what was down there. Now I know.
Again today, wind! Sometimes riding straight into it having to pedal downhill (!!) but sometimes the wind at my back, not often enough! Not much traffic and always, without exception, drivers very considerate.
Quincy is an older town located along the Mississippi River, with a downtown typical of those small cities and villages where commerce has moved out to the suburbs. Sort of old and hanging on with banks and civic buildings staying the course. As I remember, my friend Ray Franze went to college here. Looked for your initials on a tree in the park Ray, but that old tree is gone!
Having said that, I had to ride out to a Radio Shack in the newer Mall of Quincy to get a new charger for my cell phone. As I did so, I rode away from the old part of town on tree covered streets through neighborhoods filled with Victorian and what we from California refer to as mid-west bungalow type homes. All large, well maintained and beautiful. Some really stunning architecture. Not to belabor the obvious, but this trip teaches that what is on the surface is not always what you find if you get into the heart of things.
I had dinner last night down along the Mississippi river in a really nice restaurant up high over the river, watching the sunset which was a special treat. Great catfish, asparagus, baked potato and one really special dry Rob Roy!
A word about Dairy Queen. I've now got about 160 miles in on this ride, mostly on back country roads across farmland and alongside the Mississippi River. Although mostly cool and overcast, one works up a tremendous thirst. I carry 2 bottles of water and 1 of Gatorade and go through them all along the way.
Sometime in the middle of the day, I begin to fantasize about a chocolate malt, (with extra malt), in a Dairy Queen which I visualize just down the road or just around the corner. Well, forget that! No DQ's for the entire trip. Not one. Until I got to the Radio Shack. Across the street, a Dairy Queen. Last night I had my desert before I had my dinner!
Off in the morning for at least Hannibal where I'll try to download the pictures. Again.
Thanks to the very nice lady in the coffee shop in Ursa for guiding me to the River Road for my last 15 miles into Quincy.
Lots of rolling hills, beginning almost immediately after leaving Nauvoo. For a short time, right along side the Mississippi then into those darn hills as the Great River Route turns inward and then across rolling farmland. Wow, I now have ridden across those fields I always looked down on from high in airplanes coming and going. Always wondered what was down there. Now I know.
Again today, wind! Sometimes riding straight into it having to pedal downhill (!!) but sometimes the wind at my back, not often enough! Not much traffic and always, without exception, drivers very considerate.
Quincy is an older town located along the Mississippi River, with a downtown typical of those small cities and villages where commerce has moved out to the suburbs. Sort of old and hanging on with banks and civic buildings staying the course. As I remember, my friend Ray Franze went to college here. Looked for your initials on a tree in the park Ray, but that old tree is gone!
Having said that, I had to ride out to a Radio Shack in the newer Mall of Quincy to get a new charger for my cell phone. As I did so, I rode away from the old part of town on tree covered streets through neighborhoods filled with Victorian and what we from California refer to as mid-west bungalow type homes. All large, well maintained and beautiful. Some really stunning architecture. Not to belabor the obvious, but this trip teaches that what is on the surface is not always what you find if you get into the heart of things.
I had dinner last night down along the Mississippi river in a really nice restaurant up high over the river, watching the sunset which was a special treat. Great catfish, asparagus, baked potato and one really special dry Rob Roy!
A word about Dairy Queen. I've now got about 160 miles in on this ride, mostly on back country roads across farmland and alongside the Mississippi River. Although mostly cool and overcast, one works up a tremendous thirst. I carry 2 bottles of water and 1 of Gatorade and go through them all along the way.
Sometime in the middle of the day, I begin to fantasize about a chocolate malt, (with extra malt), in a Dairy Queen which I visualize just down the road or just around the corner. Well, forget that! No DQ's for the entire trip. Not one. Until I got to the Radio Shack. Across the street, a Dairy Queen. Last night I had my desert before I had my dinner!
Off in the morning for at least Hannibal where I'll try to download the pictures. Again.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Muscatine to Burlington, Almost
Good morning from Burlington, IA.
With much appreciation for Carla who drove us out to Muscatine yesterday and much delaying and questioning, "Can you answer me this, why are you doing this?", I was off on the start of this long journey. I still don't exactly have an answer, but maybe it will appear as this trip continues.
Day 1. Muscatine IA to just outside of Kingston, IA with stops along the way in Oakville and the Norman Frank farm just short of Kingston. 33 miles. 11:45 - 5:00.
For those worried about my safety, once out of Muscatine just a couple of miles, the traffic which was already light, became almost non-existent. Those few cars and trucks that passed me did so with lots of room and a friendly wave!
The only real problems of the day were the wind blowing from the south which is a real bear, a hill along the way - for those who ride the Fox River Trail, much like the hill just entering St. Charles, except not quite as steep but longer - and a gravel shortcut which ostensibly saved me 6 miles of riding. Except that it should read soft sand and gravel. What a pain.
However, the first miracle of the day came along in the form of a nice lady who passed me by in a pick up truck in a cloud of dust, screeched to a halt in a larger cloud of dust and offered me a ride back to the paved highway. What a godsend, as between the soft sand-gravel and wind, it was like riding into quicksand.
Back on the highway - read that, a 2 lane road with almost no traffic except farm traffic - shortly I arrived in Oakville, IA. On my map it shows that it has a restaurant, post office, library and campground. The restaurant - Dairy Queen - closed some time ago, the post office closed just before I got there, the library was not to be found and the sleepy little streets on this tucked away town were devoid of traffic. The only convenience store was boarded up where "A lady with her dog in the car crashed though some months ago" and "We just haven't gotten around to fixing it up yet", I was informed! However, a reload on water and Gatorade and off I went. So much for Oakville.
On I pushed towards Kingston, where at mile 33, my legs gave out! That's where I met Mr. Norman Frank and his son Cory. I asked him if there was anywhere nearby he knew where I could pitch my tent and stay the night and without hesitation he waved his hand across his property and said, "Stay here, anywhere you want". Thank you Norman and God, for giving me this small plot of ground under my tent for the evening.
Not only that, it gets better. He told me to go ahead and get fresh water out of the wellhead if I needed it, and to put my bike in the utility building to get it out of the rain predicted to come last night. And then, if that were not enough, his son Cory came down and showed me where to plug in my cell phone to charge it up!
Dinner was cooked and eaten by 8:00, and I fell asleep about 8:30 safely tucked away in my almost rain proof tent reading a book my son Matt recommended until the rain and thunder woke me up at 2:30, and slept again til 5:30 when I woke up to rain again. By 7:00, the rain had stopped and I was packed up and on the go again.
Day 2. 7:30 - 5:00. So far, 18 miles to Burlington, IA.
Here I am in the swellest - I know that's not a word - new library ever in Burlington, having gotten myself some breakfast and now updating this blog. My thanks to all the ladies in the library, especially Joyce, Paula and Angie, all of whom tried their darnedest to help me download pictures onto the blog. We tried, but could not get it done. Thanks ladies. This morning, just down the road from Mr. Frank's farm, a sign that read, "Detour, Road Closed Ahead"! You gotta be kidding me. Sure enough, about 8 miles down the road, a bridge out and under construction with no way across. #$%^^&$#!!!
I remember back about 1/4 mile, Jim's Body Shop & Towing. Back I went and asked the question, "How do I get around this roadblock." "Down the gravel road 5 miles and back on the other side"! I must have looked really frustrated because after a little conversation, I was offered a ride with the bike in the back of another pickup truck down the gravel road and back to just across the highway where a moment before I was standing in mud up to my ankles, %%&*$&^#&%&* at the irony of it all and trying to wish a way across that bridge! Thanks to Monte for the ride and the folks at Jim's Body Shop and Towing for that short but really helpful ride. Just as we got back to the highway, the sun came out. A short time later breakfast and now updating the blog. It is a good day!
And thanks to all the nice folks here in Iowa for taking care of a perfect stranger!
Off now across the Mississippi River into Illinois where I'll spend the night in either Dallas City or Nauvoo.
The trip across the Mississippi River bridge and beyond was without mishap, although all the roads between Burlington and Nauvoo, IL, were 2 lane with varying shoulders from 3 feet to none, including the last nine miles which were predominately up and down. They are called "Rollers" out here, and they certainly do. The good news is that once out of Burlington a few miles the traffic really becomes scarce.
Bob's observation of the day. When on a bicycle trip and are passed by 1, 2 3 or 4 trucks in a row, all transporting pigs to (gulp) most likely the dining room table via the slaughter house, the bicycle rider is left with an odor that causes the eyes to immediately tear and a lasting impression on the olfactory nerves. For about the next 200 yards or so from the point of exposure. Tear gas training in the Marine Corps was not nearly as bad!
Another observation. Although Muscatine, Iowa looks north of New Orleans, and on the globe is higher than New Orleans, and even though the Mississippi River flows downhill, it is not perceptible that this ride is downhill. And when combined with prevailing southerly winds, is a real corker! Yesterday there were a couple of hills I had to pedal DOWN, even thow I was going down hill. That dreaded wind!
Tonight in Nauvoo, in a hotel, with a real meal in me and a shower. Yikes! Today 50 miles on the button and the legs do not hurt. Thank God for all the training. In fact, thank God that I'm even on this trip!
Another observation, the last of the entry. When checking into a hotel in Nauvoo, a famous Mormon town, into a hotel in which all art and artifacts reflect the Mormon Faith and struggle, do not expect to be able to find a beer on the premesis. Lemonade for me tonight!
Tomorrow, continuing south along the river through Hamilton, IL and maybe as far as Quincy. Only tomorrow will tell.
BTW, I have not been able to download pictures today, but will keep trying until I get them up here. Sorry about that. Raining hard outside now. Glad I'm in. Thanks for the post Nabil, I'm on my way, as you can see!
bc
With much appreciation for Carla who drove us out to Muscatine yesterday and much delaying and questioning, "Can you answer me this, why are you doing this?", I was off on the start of this long journey. I still don't exactly have an answer, but maybe it will appear as this trip continues.
Day 1. Muscatine IA to just outside of Kingston, IA with stops along the way in Oakville and the Norman Frank farm just short of Kingston. 33 miles. 11:45 - 5:00.
For those worried about my safety, once out of Muscatine just a couple of miles, the traffic which was already light, became almost non-existent. Those few cars and trucks that passed me did so with lots of room and a friendly wave!
The only real problems of the day were the wind blowing from the south which is a real bear, a hill along the way - for those who ride the Fox River Trail, much like the hill just entering St. Charles, except not quite as steep but longer - and a gravel shortcut which ostensibly saved me 6 miles of riding. Except that it should read soft sand and gravel. What a pain.
However, the first miracle of the day came along in the form of a nice lady who passed me by in a pick up truck in a cloud of dust, screeched to a halt in a larger cloud of dust and offered me a ride back to the paved highway. What a godsend, as between the soft sand-gravel and wind, it was like riding into quicksand.
Back on the highway - read that, a 2 lane road with almost no traffic except farm traffic - shortly I arrived in Oakville, IA. On my map it shows that it has a restaurant, post office, library and campground. The restaurant - Dairy Queen - closed some time ago, the post office closed just before I got there, the library was not to be found and the sleepy little streets on this tucked away town were devoid of traffic. The only convenience store was boarded up where "A lady with her dog in the car crashed though some months ago" and "We just haven't gotten around to fixing it up yet", I was informed! However, a reload on water and Gatorade and off I went. So much for Oakville.
On I pushed towards Kingston, where at mile 33, my legs gave out! That's where I met Mr. Norman Frank and his son Cory. I asked him if there was anywhere nearby he knew where I could pitch my tent and stay the night and without hesitation he waved his hand across his property and said, "Stay here, anywhere you want". Thank you Norman and God, for giving me this small plot of ground under my tent for the evening.
Not only that, it gets better. He told me to go ahead and get fresh water out of the wellhead if I needed it, and to put my bike in the utility building to get it out of the rain predicted to come last night. And then, if that were not enough, his son Cory came down and showed me where to plug in my cell phone to charge it up!
Dinner was cooked and eaten by 8:00, and I fell asleep about 8:30 safely tucked away in my almost rain proof tent reading a book my son Matt recommended until the rain and thunder woke me up at 2:30, and slept again til 5:30 when I woke up to rain again. By 7:00, the rain had stopped and I was packed up and on the go again.
Day 2. 7:30 - 5:00. So far, 18 miles to Burlington, IA.
Here I am in the swellest - I know that's not a word - new library ever in Burlington, having gotten myself some breakfast and now updating this blog. My thanks to all the ladies in the library, especially Joyce, Paula and Angie, all of whom tried their darnedest to help me download pictures onto the blog. We tried, but could not get it done. Thanks ladies. This morning, just down the road from Mr. Frank's farm, a sign that read, "Detour, Road Closed Ahead"! You gotta be kidding me. Sure enough, about 8 miles down the road, a bridge out and under construction with no way across. #$%^^&$#!!!
I remember back about 1/4 mile, Jim's Body Shop & Towing. Back I went and asked the question, "How do I get around this roadblock." "Down the gravel road 5 miles and back on the other side"! I must have looked really frustrated because after a little conversation, I was offered a ride with the bike in the back of another pickup truck down the gravel road and back to just across the highway where a moment before I was standing in mud up to my ankles, %%&*$&^#&%&* at the irony of it all and trying to wish a way across that bridge! Thanks to Monte for the ride and the folks at Jim's Body Shop and Towing for that short but really helpful ride. Just as we got back to the highway, the sun came out. A short time later breakfast and now updating the blog. It is a good day!
And thanks to all the nice folks here in Iowa for taking care of a perfect stranger!
Off now across the Mississippi River into Illinois where I'll spend the night in either Dallas City or Nauvoo.
The trip across the Mississippi River bridge and beyond was without mishap, although all the roads between Burlington and Nauvoo, IL, were 2 lane with varying shoulders from 3 feet to none, including the last nine miles which were predominately up and down. They are called "Rollers" out here, and they certainly do. The good news is that once out of Burlington a few miles the traffic really becomes scarce.
Bob's observation of the day. When on a bicycle trip and are passed by 1, 2 3 or 4 trucks in a row, all transporting pigs to (gulp) most likely the dining room table via the slaughter house, the bicycle rider is left with an odor that causes the eyes to immediately tear and a lasting impression on the olfactory nerves. For about the next 200 yards or so from the point of exposure. Tear gas training in the Marine Corps was not nearly as bad!
Another observation. Although Muscatine, Iowa looks north of New Orleans, and on the globe is higher than New Orleans, and even though the Mississippi River flows downhill, it is not perceptible that this ride is downhill. And when combined with prevailing southerly winds, is a real corker! Yesterday there were a couple of hills I had to pedal DOWN, even thow I was going down hill. That dreaded wind!
Tonight in Nauvoo, in a hotel, with a real meal in me and a shower. Yikes! Today 50 miles on the button and the legs do not hurt. Thank God for all the training. In fact, thank God that I'm even on this trip!
Another observation, the last of the entry. When checking into a hotel in Nauvoo, a famous Mormon town, into a hotel in which all art and artifacts reflect the Mormon Faith and struggle, do not expect to be able to find a beer on the premesis. Lemonade for me tonight!
Tomorrow, continuing south along the river through Hamilton, IL and maybe as far as Quincy. Only tomorrow will tell.
BTW, I have not been able to download pictures today, but will keep trying until I get them up here. Sorry about that. Raining hard outside now. Glad I'm in. Thanks for the post Nabil, I'm on my way, as you can see!
bc
Sunday, May 4, 2008
The Best Laid Plans...
All those people who think I'm leaving for Muscatine today, stand up. Not so fast everybody!
Wouldn't you know that Saturday afternoon I felt a cold coming on and went to bed last night weezing and sneezing. This morning felt about the same so have put off departure for a few days. No sense in starting this thing sick.
When asked how he felt about that, Bob said "%$@*!!^*%g Drat".
Wouldn't you know that Saturday afternoon I felt a cold coming on and went to bed last night weezing and sneezing. This morning felt about the same so have put off departure for a few days. No sense in starting this thing sick.
When asked how he felt about that, Bob said "%$@*!!^*%g Drat".
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