Day 37: Missouri unleashed

Cloudy day. It rained on me just as I got into Houston. Other than that, the weather was great for riding. Lots of towns within 10 or 20 miles of each other made it easy to take lots of breaks and stay fresh. I needed that freshness because I ended up racing the sunset into Houston. It was great to see Fred one more time before he goes back home to Ohio.

Here's me after I fixed my bike (my chain rings were loose):



Stats and highlights

Ash Grove MO to Houston MO
Miles: 111
Temp: high 90s
Terrain: hilly
Highlights:
Eating the best engineered veggie delight subway sandwiche I have ever had in Hartville MO.

Hanging out with Fred.

Day 36: stats and highlights

Erie KS to Ash Grove MO
Miles: 108
Hills: about a dozen wonderful hills
Bugs committing suicide by flying into my wheel: 2
KS towns that also exist in Western PA: Erie, Pittsburgh
Dogs that chased me: 4 ( There was one group of three that saw me coming. I slowed down as to not entice them. They kept following me and viciously barking. Once I had about 5 feet on them, I turned on the jets. I left them in the dust)
Focus of today's Spanish lesson: possessive pronouns

Highlights:
Meeting Earl in Girard KS who showed me around his land when I rode by. He had built a covered bridge over his creek, as well as a tree house and merry-go-round.









The clouds that covered the sky all day long!

Reading comments from you guys. It can be a lonely road out here and it really lifts my spirits when I read things that you guys post or email.

Referring to myself as "the one bag rider" in my head all day long.

Taking a shower here at the city park after a delicious Chinese take-out meal.

Here is a field in Missouri:


- Jeremy Tagliaferre; hiker, biker, and general life liker.

Day 36: I don't think we're in Kansas any more

I say day 35 in the video but it is indeed day 36. Believe it or not, they all kinda run together:

I am very excited to be out of Kansas (No offense to any Kansanites, you guys were all great. I just got tired of the relentless sun and continuous pedaling). The flat parts were indeed flat, but that does not mean easy. The flatness of KS means that I had to pedal every mile. Instead of getting a break after a hill, I had to work for every inch. And sometimes that inch had wind blowing in my face. Those hard sections don't show up on an elevation profile and can really catch you off guard. A few miles past the border I ran into three dudes headed west. They couldn't have been more excited to get into the state I had just fled. I have already enjoyed some of Missouri's famous roller coaster ups and downs. They are the same bumps the three amigos are happy to be rid of. I guess we will have to wait and see if I still find them fun after they get bigger and steeper in the Ozarks.

Here are the glorious clouds of Missouri keeping temps cool in the high 90s:


- Jeremy Tagliaferre; hiker, biker, and general life liker.