Final thoughts

The only certainty in life, beyond death and taxes, is that it won’t turn out the way you anticipate. I embarked on the Trans-Am ride on a whim, as an adventure and a swift kick to the head. I set the ridiculous goal of doing the trip as an unsupported solo ride in 30 days because I didn’t know if I could physically, emotionally or mentally complete the journey. And for me, that’s the joy of life: entering into challenging and rewarding experiences unsure of the outcome.

In the end, I wasn’t able to ride the entire route in the allotted time. After dealing with altitude sickness in Colorado, I suffered heat stroke in Utah. And not being able to eat for two days really put the brakes on the ride. Therefore, I decided to bypass Nevada and start riding again at the Nevada / California border.

But in those first 23 days, I found to a large degree what I was looking for on the trip. I overcame daunting obstacles: from environmental extremes to physical impairments to emotional rockiness. I learned that I am a stronger, more capable and resourceful person than I believed. It was a truly remarkable experience. Now comes the hard part – applying this to life beyond the bike.

Quick data:
Mileage: 3012 (out of an anticipated 3495)
Days in the saddle: 25 (out of an anticipated 30)
Daily average: 120 miles
Longest day: 160 miles (Ness City, KS to Eads, CO)
Average speed: 14.6 mph
Average time in the saddle: 8 hours 25 minutes per day
Dog chases: 33
Flat tires: 9
Shortest distance between flats: 3 miles
Longest distance between flats: 1,000+ miles (Day 5 to Day 14)
Trans-Am cyclists encountered: 72
Advil taken: 79
Toughest riding: Eastern Kentucky
Favorite riding: Virginia, Utah & Western Colorado

And then...

...you wake up the next morning and everything is the same but different. The apartment, the neighborhood, the walk to the store haven't changed but your pants don't fit. You haven't missed deodorant, underwear or the job for a month. And then you realize that they're the same - things we wear to make one's life more acceptable for others.
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Arrival

Ahhh...It's great to be back in San Francisco. I had a relatively flat final day of riding to Vallejo where I took the ferry to SF (there isn't a good way to ride around the Bay). Then I rode to the top of the Marin Headlands to end the ride. Before the trip started, I had spent a lot of time training in the Headlands and had picked that spot for the final destination. Plus, the view isn't half bad.
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Recap: Day 28

Our intrepid superhero is beginning to understand the limits of time, space and body. What would have been a moderately difficult ride only ten days ago, was a challenging one today. It began at the Nevada / California border and went over the Sierras at Carson Pass and ended near Sacramento.

Boy Blunder continues to have hydration issues. If only portable IV bags were available for cycling.

There is light at the end of the tunnel - tomorrow is the final leg of the journey to San Francisco. Yipee!!!
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Intervention needed!

I may have lost my wingman to the slots! First it was cards but now he's in the grasp of the One-Armed Bandit.
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Recap: Day 27

Due to the fact that I need to be back at work on Monday, I had to decide between riding to the middle of Nevada and then teleporting to San Francisco or bypassing Nevada and then riding California. I thought the latter a more attractive option.

I spent most of the day driving across Nevada on Highway 50 - the Loneliest Road in America - to get back on schedule. It wasn't exactly spellbinding at 75 mph so I can only imagine the monotony of it on a bike.

So I'm kicking it in the state capitol of Nevada. Yes, Carson City is everything they say it is!
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Recap: Day 26

The team took some time to do what normal people do on vacations - relax and take in the sights. We toured Bryce Canyon, did some hiking and started eating again.
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Recap: Day 24 & 25

Boy Blunder spent quality time convalescing in a dark hotel room in Hanksville, UT. Luckily, the room had cable TV which provided BB the opporunity to watch the Golden Girls marathon and get some early Christmas shopping done on HSN!

When our superhero was asleep or babbling to himself, Jacques Couteau presided over the remote. To my chagrin, he spent hours watching the World Series of Poker. He now wants to make a detour to Reno, americanize his name to Jack Knife and he keeps staring at me with unblinking eyes.

Toward the latter part of my recovery, I agreed to play cards with him. Of course we had to use his petit cards and all we had to bet with was trail mix. But in the end BB prevailed when he went all in with a towering stack of M&Ms and banana chips and got lucky on the final card!
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Hwy 95 image

This is about 25 miles into the ride from Blanding, UT.
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Meltdown

The heat index factor of snickers-pudding hot officially equals Boy Blunder's melon scrambling point. It wasn't but eight hours after I concluded the scenic ride along Hwy 95 that I became violently ill. Delayed heat stroke more than likely was the culprit. So I holed up in a dark hotel room for 24 hours with liquids and hopes of a quick recovery. But as that hasn't happened, I'm reassessing that final portion of the ride.

More than likely, I will take several days off to recover, skip over Nevada and then ride across California.

I'm just glad this didn't occurr in the middle of the desert. Although I wouldn't call Hanksville a happenin' place at least it has a hotel.
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Day 23 recap

It was with trepidation that I started the ride this morning. After yesterday's meltdown, I was committing myself to a hefty ride - 125 miles through the desert with only one place for water along the entire route. The wind was calm with light clouds overhead as I departed. Almost from the moment I turned onto Hwy 95, the landscape became increasingly dramatic. It was the most picturesque ride I have ever taken. I'm talking about 100 miles of dramatic landscapes. The route went by Natural Bridge Park and then through Glen Canyon Park.

I stopped at Lake Powell for lunch and water. Then finished the ride under a toasty sun.

A fabulous day!
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A big hoax?

I must have crossed ten cow guards and seen twice that number of Open Range signs. But I didn't see a single cow, didn't even hear a distant moo. I think it's all a load of bull!
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Mind the gap

If you're not paying attention and go over one of these wrong, you're likely to put your dental work on the pavement!
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Day 21 recap

This morning I felt like I had been hit by a bus. The previous night my respiration and heart rates were elevated several hours after I got off the bike. I had pushed too hard the two days in the mountain. I probably should have taken the day off but the weather was good and well, they don't call me Boy Blunder for nothing!

Slowly I went and by noon I was coherent. Which was a decided improvement. About this time I realized that I had spoken with a family member the night before and didn't remember much of the conversation. Exhausted to the point of stupid.

Anyway, the weather was good, the scenery splendid and by the end of the day, I felt whole again.

I had a lovely dinner courtesy of a convenience store - Top Ramen with chili and hot dogs and canned peaches for dessert! Yum!!!

Camping in Stoner, CO. Will be in Utah tomorrow.
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Day 22 recap

Well, it was bound to happen at some point on this trip. That moment at which Boy Blunder's bubble bursts. I had been struggling with fatigue for a couple days but felt good in the morning. A happy tailwind had thoughts of a big mileage day dancing in my head. My route shifted and the tailwind became a vigorous crosswind along a busy highway with a poor shoulder. I took a break for lunch at a town where I would turning directly into the wind. I didn't want to leave the Taco Time; I just sat there and looked blankly out the window. I finally got on the bike to ride 21 miles to the next town where I was going to end the ride early for the day. I only lasted about four miles before my spirit leaked away.

I checked into a hotel at 3:00, got into bed and turned on HBO. They were showing the film Run Fat Boy Run. Too bad I didn't find the story of a loser father completing a marathon on a broken ankle inspiring. But it was pretty damn ironic.

So I drank a bottle of PediaLite, ate dinner and when to bed about 8:00.
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I have another heat index category: when snickers bars turn to pudding. It's close to tar bubbles on the road hot but there's a distinct difference.

What an amazing ride. 125 miles of gorgeous scenery. A lonely and beautiful landscape around Glen Canyon. Pics when I get data service again.

Tough day from Stoner, CO to Blanding, UT. A good tailwind became a strong crosswind and then a fierce headwind. Cut the ride short due to fatigue.

Goodbye Colorado, hello Utah!

Roller skating pants?

Does Cordarounds have roller skating pants? I don't mean roller blading pants. I mean throwback four pair of orange wheels, white leather lace up, knobby brake on the front roller skating pants!
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Next adventure

Boy Blunder is taking his next adventure to South America. He's going to roller skate the length of Chile!
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2500 miles!

Passed the milestone in Placerville so I stopped and ate half a box of Pop Tarts to celebrate.
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Morning in the mountains

Headed south today towards Telluride. Doesn't Oprah have a house there? Maybe I'll kick it with her for a few days.

Really feeling yesterday's ride; feeling ragged. I think that the mileage is starting to catch up to me. Maybe I shouldn't have done 130 miles through the Rockies in inclement weather. On the bright side, the weather is better so hopefully I can stay dry today.
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Day 20 recap

I need to write this ASAP before I fall asleep in my Chinese food! I started the day in Salida only 23 miles from the Monarch Pass summit at 11,300 feet. Well, two hours and forty-five huffing and puffing minutes later I reached the summit. The grade of the road wasn't an issue. It was the elevation and the lack of oxygen available for a coastal kid like me.

At the summit, I thought that I'd warm up with a cup of coffee. Little did I know that when I came out of the cafe it would be snowing. On the descent, it snowed, hailed and rained. My hands were so cold near the bottom that I couldn't feel the brake levers. This called for another cup of coffee at a gas station ten miles from the summit. I dunked my fingers in the coffee. I certainly haven't learned any etiquette on this trip.

As I've said before, Colorado is beautiful when it isn't snowing, hailing, raining, thunder and lightning or blowing on me. And that was just today!

I'm sleeping in tomorrow! And then having leftover Chinese food for breakfast.
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Day 19 recap

I had a relaxing morning breakfast with friends. I'm fortunate to have such generous and wonderful friends!

Afterwards, I drove back to Pueblo and hopped on the bike. It was a leisurely pace for the first couple hours. And then the climbing started. It wasn't severe just continuous for miles. Of course the rain started about the time I was gasping for air as I passed 8000 feet. I thought that 50 miles be all I could hack for the day. Finally, I reached the summit of the pass at 9200 feet and the weather has cleared. What a relief to descend! But wait a second, what is that on the horizon? Thunderstorms. On the descent, I got caught in two hail storms! Ouch. By the time I reached the bottom, I was frozen.

After a cup of coffee, the sun came out and I found some motivation. To be honest, when it isn't raining or hailing the Rockies are gorgeous.
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What a day! Sun, rain, hail (twice), wind and an ascent over a 9200 foot pass. When I could see the mountains, they were gorgeous. In Salida for the night.

Back at it

After a wonderful 18 hours off the bike in Denver, it's time to get back at it. From Pueblo, I head into the Rockies today. Hope the legs are ready!
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Day 18 recap

Started the day early in Eads, CO. Made the 113 miles to Pueblo by 2:00 so that WL could have an afternoon at the bike spa while BB rented a car and shot up to Denver for an evening with friends in his old stomping grounds. Can't say how excited I am for laundry, a giant television and good company!

The Rockies start tomorrow with the ascent of Monarch Pass the following day. Monarch will the highest point of the trip at 11,300 feet.
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T Rex hands

My hands spend so much time gripping the handlebars that they are evolving into highly specialized appendages. Only problem is that they're not good for much else.

Yesterday, I was trying to clip my fingernails but couldn't put enough pressure on the clippers. When I inflate my sleeping pad, I struggle turning the valve - I may have to use my teeth soon. I might even be forced to hold the toothbrush with my toes soon. Or skip it until I finish this ride and my fingers straighten.
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Day 17 recap

Oh Lightnin', I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

We took advantage of a favorable afternoon wind and trucked right out of Kansas. In fact, White Lightnin' wanted to keep going all the way to Pueblo. But I thought that 160 miles today was plenty. Besides Hans and Franz (BB's thighs) were starting to gripe. So we called it a day in Eads, CO (I agree. Sometime in the town's illustrious past, a portion of the town sign was stolen, lost in a tornado or used to patch a roof).

Speaking of twisters, I think that our timing worked out for once. There were 16 tornados in the state of Colorado yesterday. I might have spent some quality time hiding in a ditch.

The crew is rewarding itself with a fine evening at the Econo Lodge.
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Goodbye Kansas, hello Colorado!

I love the smell of feed lot in the morning!

Ever try to hold your breath as you ride past a cattle feed lot that's a mile long? Didn't work so well for me either.
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Typical lunch

Another day, another bacon double cheeseburger, fries, coke and a pineapple shake!
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Weird weather

Two days ago it was 94 degrees. Today it's make my nose run cold. At least it gave me a chance to wear my cold riding gear. I would have hated to carry them all across the country and not use them.

Here's an image from the convenience store where I stopped to get a cup of coffee in Dighton, KS.

And yes the bowling alley here was also open when I rode by at 8:30.
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Day 16 recap

The day was chocobloc full of straight roads, long vistas of wheat and cows. Looking forward to the same thing tomorrow.

The wind last night was so strong that I feared it would pull out my tent pegs and send me tumbling across the plains in my tent like a bouncey ball! Luckily they abated by morning.

I rode on a single straight road for 50 miles. It got just a bit tedious.

FYI - if you ever find yourself in rural Kansas on a sunday don't get out of bed. Most places are closed and the grocery store here in Ness City was closed at five and they have Blue Laws!

With luck I'll be in Colorado tomorrow!
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Day 16

Looking good so far. Winds are calmer, sun is out and the birds are singing. Hello from Nickerson, KS.
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Grazie, grazie, grazie

A big thank you to JP for delivering dinner to a very hungry Boy in the park. And I will enjoy the candies on the ride tomorrow! Maybe one for every 15 miles - that should keep me going.
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Halfway stats

Days in the saddle: 15
Miles: 1794
Daily avg: 119.6 miles
Avg pace: 14.3 mph
Advil consumed: 51
Trans-Am cyclists met: 46 (5 headed east)
Flat tires: 4
Dog chases: 32
Nights spent in dry county/city/park: 5
Items thrown from windows: 0
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Day 15 recap

WINDY. Umm...that about sums it up. Aslo, the temperature reached the tar bubble on the asphalt level. I heard the wind start last night and was worried. And I was right to be. It was a sustained 20 mph wind out of the SSW with gusts into the 30s, I'm sure. I had one heck of a time keeping the bike from being blown into the ditch! For 108 of the day's 130 miles I battled this wind as I rode west. I yelled at it. I gnashed my teeth at it. I flipped it off. None of these actions mattered one bit to the wind, my nemesis.

But I was rewarded at the end of my journey with a swimming pool at the park in Buhler. What a splendid swim I had! There's only one drawback to Buhler. The restaurants close at four on saturday and aren't even open on sunday. I'm told that the shops are closed too. But a lifeguard took pity on Boy Blunder and is going to bring some food over to the park for our weary hero.
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Making you jealous

This is a place I'll be telling my grandchildren about!
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Fame grows!

A newly dedicated roadin Kansas!
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Yes, it's windy

Kansas decided not to betray is reputation. There is a gusty wind out if the SSW. Most of the time it's a crosswind which is better than a headwind! But I weeble-wobble in the gusts. Makes it interesting. In fact it reminds me of windy days on the Golden Gate.

In case you're wondering, the bowling alley in Eureka, KS is open at 8am.
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Day 14 recap

Really? The end of tomorrow will be the midpoint? It's hard to believe. I spend so much time every day focusing on the next bump, the next mile, the next town that I forget that I'm making significant progress toward my goal - the welcome home party and the book deal. Duh!

I had a slight setback today as I lost three hours of riding time because I needed a new hub for my rear wheel. I think I went to the most lethargic bike shop on the planet. Next time I'm in Pittsburgh, KS, I hope that I don't need bike service!

C'est la vie. As my furry comrade says.

If everything goes splendidly over the next four days, I should be in Pueblo, CO on the 9th.
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Hurry up and wait

Nothing ever goes perfectly well. I noticed last night when I was working on the bike that the rear wheel had a wobble. This usually means that the hub is kaput. Luckily, the only bike shop on the route for the entire state of Kansas was 35 miles away. So now I have a couple hours to kill waiting for the shop to open and then for them to fix White Lightnin.

I contemplated pushing on to Pueblo, CO before I had it fixed but the last thing I wanted was to be in the middle of Kansas without a working rear wheel. I suppose I could have purchased a small tractor wheel and used that. Something tells me that a couple of hours spent in Pittsburgh, KS could save me a couple of days on the plains waiting for FedEx to deliver a new wheel, or hitchhiking to a town with a bike shop, or whittlin' a new hub out of a fence post.
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Into the heartland

I'm here to find Dorothy.
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Always time for fashion

Taking time away from riding to model the Boy Blunder spring line. This season it's all about the Cordarounds and cape!
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Missouri safety

I rode across a number of bridges that had this sign posted. And I also rode over several without it. I'm not sure on which bridges I felt safer!
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Old School, part 1

The look!
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Rockin' it old school

Not only is White Lightnin' circa 1990 but so are my riding gloves. I don't ride with gloves but I figured that my hands could use the extra love on this trip. When I was going through my box of cycling stuff, I found the gloves that I had when WL was just a colt.

Not only do they have leather palms, they also have cotton webbing on the back. Well, there are two issues with this. The first is that natural materials don't do so well in rain, sun, sweat, etc. I think that they qualify as a bio-hazard! When I get up in the morning, I have to go find them as they often crawl away in the night.

Secondly, on most importantly, the dye isn't waterproof. So anytime I sweat or it rains, the dye runs. And since it is either hot, raining or both my hands are comical looking!
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When closed isn't closed

Day 13 recap: The day started in the mud behind a feed store and ended in the sun at a kid's little league game in Golden City, MO. The Kansas border is 40 miles distant!

Back in VA, I was started down a closed road thinking that sometimes things aren't really closed. I had just turned back when a policeman rolled up. Now, if I'd learned from that to respect highway signs I wouldn't have made such fine progress today. On two occasions, I slipped through closed road signs and was allowed to pass through construction zones. It never hurts to try or to just play dumb.

I got to shower tonight at the city park where I'm staying. Simply amazing!
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A road to call my own

The State of Missouri honored Boy Blunder today with his very own road: State Route BB.
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The wee turtles

I keep telling the turtles to get the hell off the road! What are they doing there anyway. I've seen more turtles alive and squished than I would have imagined possible.

I asked this little guy if he wanted to come along on the adventure. He was shy and went into his house. So I put him in the ditch and told him to stay the hell of the road!!!

Jacques Couteau kept saying "turtle soup, j'aime le turtle soup!"
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I don't get it

Yesterday, five consecutive men ordered biscuits and gravy for breakfast but 80% of the beer cans I see along the road are BudLight. And interesting dilema.
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This morning

A view of the early part of today's ride.
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Missouri literacy con't

Clearly, this Missouri road crew didn't benefit from the road naming conventions. Using letters instead of numbers in case you haven't been following.

It reads "patching weeke of june 1."
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Day 13

In Hartville, MO and the sun is out. It's a wee bit cold and windy but it's dry!!!
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What's worse...

...than a soggy Boy Blunder?

A stinky soggy Boy Blunder that has ridden 242 miles through 90 degree heat, thunderstorms and a morning of constant rain since his last shower. Nor have the clothes been washed. Pukey! I'm not sure I even want to defile my sleeping bag by getting into it.

Today was blah. The weather was poor, my mood matched it and I struggled to get to 104 miles. That left me camping behind a feed store in Ben Davis, MO. A thick cold fog had rolled in and I couldn't push myself to do another 20 miles which would have put me on another court house lawn. But at least it would have been in a town with a restaurant. This town doesn't have a population. Must be just Mr. Ben Davis.

Tomorrow, I descend out of the Ozarks and will make it almost to Kansas. Right now, I'm 165 miles away.

Wow! I stink! I want to wrap my feet in plastic bags and bury them!
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Rain, rain go away!

BB is soggy, very very soggy! I think that the UN should employ my amazing rain making capabilities for global drought relief. Or at the least, the farmers should kick a few bucks my way fir aiding their crops!
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Day 11 recap

Started the day early, 5:45 early, in an attempt to avoid the heat. Made good time through Illinois, over the Mississippi, and into Missouri. Went into a bit of a daze around midday but a temple on the hill revived me. Ran into a bit of thunder, lightning and big rain in the afternoon. Just enough to cool things off.

Ended the day in Centerville, Missouri. I'm camping on the courthouse lawn, no kidding.

It was the first day since Day 1 that I've ridden without pain. Discomfort, of course, but nothing that made me swear. All told, I rolled 138 miles today. Tomorrow, I get into the heart of the Ozarks.
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Roadkill update

New species sighting: Armadillo.

JW - I know that this of great interest to you!
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Dinner doubts

Sitting here at the 21 Diner in downtown Centerville, population 161, and I'm thinking that I missed out on ordering the Pork fritter sandwich for $2.65. Might have it for dessert instead of the banana split.

On another culinary note, breakfast looks promising. The Gas station/Grocery/dvd rental/Pizza shack opens at 5am for brekkie! I'm thinking I just might have eggs, toast and every kind of ham product on the menu!
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Missouri literacy

In order to promote literacy in the state of Missouri, the roads are named with letters.
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Huh?

Having lunch here in Farmington, MO and I ordered the standard lunch but I went with sweet potatoe fries. And guess what was served as a sauce for the fries. Give up? Marshmellow fluff! Hmm...
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Things learned

Slow miles are better than no miles.

Slow miles in the correct direction are better than fast miles in the wrong direction.

What goes down must go back up.
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East bound rider

I meet my first east bound rider today. So far I've met 30 west bound riders and just one east bound rider. He's riding from SF to DC. He mentioned that he hit 58 mph descending Monarch Pass (the highest point of the ride). I've ridden that fast and it makes certain parts pucker! I don't let Lightnin' get above 35 mph. His knees aren't so good - old football injury.

Thunderstorms are rolling in - may be an interesting afternoon.
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On the hill

And what to my wondering eyes did appear but a brewery on the hill. So I sprang from my bike, all with a clatter and raced inside for a pint of the bitter!

I thought it must have been a mirage. I was low on water, had eaten my last snickers, was struggling past mile 80 in the heat and was still 10 miles from the lunch spot. But alas, there was another cyclist so I had to stop and chat; and then go in for some AC, water and a pint. But just one! I still have 40 - 50 miles to go today.
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Show me what?

I've crossed the Mississippi River and I'm into Missouri. Yipee!
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Sweet reward

Ahhhh...after ending rides in three consecutive dry counties in Kentucky and then a dry state park in Illinois, I have finally washed the grime and coal dust out of my mouth. In fact, I purchased this at a drive through liquor store. No, I wasn't on White Lightnin'.
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Sweet reward

Ahhhh...after ending rides in three consecutive dry counties in Kentucky and then a dry state park in Illinois, I have finally washed the grime and coal dust out of my mouth. In fact, I purchased this at a drive through liquor store. No, I wasn't on White Lightnin'.
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Day 11 start

Good morning America.
How are you?
I said "don't ya know me,
I'm your native son."
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Day 10 recap

The day began in Cave In Rock, IL on the Ohio River and ended in Waynesborough. I have to give a shout out to Delancey's restaurant in Goreville - darn fine grub! Now, I can't complain about a little sun especially after so much rain. But I will say that it was tar bubble on the road hot today. Will try to get on the road by 6 tomorrow morning as I head toward Missouri.

To date, I've ridden 1184 miles (out of 3500), had four flats and one broken spoke. I've popped 36 advil and been chased by dogs 23 times. To clarify, a dog chase is defined as pursuit with malice.
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Ohio River ferry

Here's the Kentucky side of the ferry across the Ohio River to Cave In Rock, IL (yes, that's a real city). I think it deserves a post card in a gift shop somewhere.
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Budget hotels

Most of the time I have been camping but every now and then I splurge. I had the pleasure on staying at the Economy Inn in Harrodsburg, KY. I made sure that my room was nowhere near this room!
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Mythical cell tower

I just thought that I would report that I have discovered the mythical Kentucky cell tower. I'm not sure what happened to my phone but that Verizon dude and his people were nowhere to be found in KY. I did, however, run across a Verizon technician on the road today and asked him about coverage. My phone just needed a bit of a reset. It's good to be back.
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White Lightnin

I thought it was about time to put up a pic of WL fully loaded.
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My favorite breakfast? Leftover sub sandwich. It's a great combo of carbs, fats, protein and veggies. I can eat 3 packets of oatmeal and be hungry in 90 minutes

Had my favorite lunch again today: bacon double cheeseburger. I skipped the vanilla shake though.

I'm going to be sad when I leave sweet tea country. Don't think I'll miss coleslaw country.

Having lunch in Goreville, IL. It's a clear warm day with a vexing headwind. The state may have changed but the trucks are still red.