Beer tasting!
Ready for another day in the office, leaving Al's Place in Farmington, IL
Jeff, Hugh and Luc leaving Eminence, IL
Roads getting straighter, flatter and hotter, just before Kansas!
Showing posts with label Missouri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Missouri. Show all posts
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Missouri Photos
Beer tasting!
Ready for another day in the office, leaving Al's Place in Farmington, IL
Jeff, Hugh and Luc leaving Eminence, IL
Roads getting straighter, flatter and hotter, just before Kansas!
Tuesday, 22 June 2010
Marshfield to Ashgrove, (Missouri)
Today we arrived in a town called Ash Grove, Missouri after a very hot 50 mile ride preceeded by a very hot night camping at Marshfield city park (and also some drunken hollering from some locals and a train that honked and honked at about 2am). Luckily for us, we are staying in a small air conditioned cabin tonight at Ash Grove City Park - it means you get no sleep from all the snoring but I would much rather that than no sleep because you are being cooked alive in your tent!
This town is very pleasant and we have just spent the afternoon in the city park swimming pool, Robin reading his book in the shade and me trying to even out my tan - biking is not the best activity to do for a lovely even shade. I currently look as though I am wearing a pair of stockings and have strange markings on my back (due to the straps on my top). Generally my left side is darker than my right and my hands look like I'm wearing one of those Michael Jackson Gloves!
The route today was still hilly (actually 'hilly' does not do the Ozarks justice!) and I was exhausted after 10 miles let alone 50! However, it was very beautiful (as Robin kept pointing out as I am puffing up the hills!).
Tomorrow will see us crossing the border from Missouri into Kansas (our fifth state), how exciting! We are also half way through the entire trip tomorrow (days wise) so its definately feeling like theres no way back! We've been informed that most of Kansas is very flat, however, other passing cyclists we have met coming from the West complain about this as there is no relief from peddalling and there can be a horrendous headwind. Also, it will continue to be very hot and there is not much shade as Kansas mainly consists of corn and sunflower fields (or so I'm told). We also have to be on the look out for tornados (like in the 'Wizard of Oz'!) I think that cyclists are never happy! I am looking forward to seeing the famous fields of sunflowers and singing 'somewhere over the rainbow' as we pedal through and we will let you know what Kansas is really like in a couple of days! Our first stop in Kansas is Pittsburg where we will have a rest day so we'll update our blog then. Bye for now x
This town is very pleasant and we have just spent the afternoon in the city park swimming pool, Robin reading his book in the shade and me trying to even out my tan - biking is not the best activity to do for a lovely even shade. I currently look as though I am wearing a pair of stockings and have strange markings on my back (due to the straps on my top). Generally my left side is darker than my right and my hands look like I'm wearing one of those Michael Jackson Gloves!
The route today was still hilly (actually 'hilly' does not do the Ozarks justice!) and I was exhausted after 10 miles let alone 50! However, it was very beautiful (as Robin kept pointing out as I am puffing up the hills!).
Tomorrow will see us crossing the border from Missouri into Kansas (our fifth state), how exciting! We are also half way through the entire trip tomorrow (days wise) so its definately feeling like theres no way back! We've been informed that most of Kansas is very flat, however, other passing cyclists we have met coming from the West complain about this as there is no relief from peddalling and there can be a horrendous headwind. Also, it will continue to be very hot and there is not much shade as Kansas mainly consists of corn and sunflower fields (or so I'm told). We also have to be on the look out for tornados (like in the 'Wizard of Oz'!) I think that cyclists are never happy! I am looking forward to seeing the famous fields of sunflowers and singing 'somewhere over the rainbow' as we pedal through and we will let you know what Kansas is really like in a couple of days! Our first stop in Kansas is Pittsburg where we will have a rest day so we'll update our blog then. Bye for now x
Monday, 21 June 2010
Horrendous hills, heat and humidity of the Ozark Mountains!
Well folks, we've arrived into Marshfield, Missouri today and managed to fight our way into a library to get internet access. This first involved asking directions from the only person foolish enough to brave the heat with us (who also was one of the many around this small town who feel the need to use their Second Amendment - the right to bear arms - frankly the place feels as dangerous as Cowbridge on a Saturday morning!). Second, we had to give photographic identification and a funny handshake to get onto a computer (needless to say, Luc hadn't any ID and so, for a change it is I, Robin typing!).
For the past few days it has been HOT and we have been melting but for the relief of air conditioning in motels for the last two nights. For any of you weather buffs out there, there has been a heat advisory weather warning with the funny/scary wording...
DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS 100 DEGREES OR GREATER FOR FOUR OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. PEOPLE IN THE ADVISORY AREA ARE ADVISED TO AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN...(no mention of cycling though!) OR IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS. ALSO...KEEP PLENTY OF LIQUIDS ON HAND (or bike) AND TRY TO STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. (joke!)
MANY PEOPLE AVOID USING AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE OF THE COST. IN TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY...THIS CAN BE A FATAL MISTAKE! (agree - hence the group discussed and agreed to use our group kitty to fund staying in a motel!).
Aside from the heat (which makes even sitting an effort), the area has become beautiful rolling countryside after some short but very sharp mountainous roads in the Ozarks. We have crossed countless rugged river canyons with crystal clear waters - the relief of jumping off and swimming in the cool rivers is amazing. We have experienced the awesome power of nature - no, not the fact that the oldest mountain range was once under the sea... no, the power of the skunk. Frankly this small mammal deserves respect - one campground we stayed in recently stank so much of the thing that you constantly walked around checking what you had stood in!
For a break from cycling we have been doing other things aside from swimming. First we climbed up a fire tower - picture a power pylon but with a small garden shed stuck on the top for some poor sole to sit in and presumably spot fires in. Well, we were able to climb up this precarious thing and see the mountainous hills from a totally different angle. Strangely, from several hundred feet up, the forest seems to go on forever and the horizon seemed completely flat. Another alternative was running - although in the heat this didn't really result in much!
Anyway our library is shutting and the computer is flashing. Expect an update soon. Fingers crossed for rain/coolness!
For the past few days it has been HOT and we have been melting but for the relief of air conditioning in motels for the last two nights. For any of you weather buffs out there, there has been a heat advisory weather warning with the funny/scary wording...
DANGEROUSLY HIGH HEAT INDEX VALUES BETWEEN 100 AND 105 DEGREES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
A HEAT ADVISORY IS ISSUED WHEN HIGH TEMPERATURE AND HUMIDITY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE IT FEEL LIKE IT IS 100 DEGREES OR GREATER FOR FOUR OR MORE CONSECUTIVE DAYS. PEOPLE IN THE ADVISORY AREA ARE ADVISED TO AVOID PROLONGED WORK IN THE SUN...(no mention of cycling though!) OR IN POORLY VENTILATED AREAS. ALSO...KEEP PLENTY OF LIQUIDS ON HAND (or bike) AND TRY TO STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENT. (joke!)
MANY PEOPLE AVOID USING AIR CONDITIONING BECAUSE OF THE COST. IN TIMES OF EXTREME HEAT AND HUMIDITY...THIS CAN BE A FATAL MISTAKE! (agree - hence the group discussed and agreed to use our group kitty to fund staying in a motel!).
Aside from the heat (which makes even sitting an effort), the area has become beautiful rolling countryside after some short but very sharp mountainous roads in the Ozarks. We have crossed countless rugged river canyons with crystal clear waters - the relief of jumping off and swimming in the cool rivers is amazing. We have experienced the awesome power of nature - no, not the fact that the oldest mountain range was once under the sea... no, the power of the skunk. Frankly this small mammal deserves respect - one campground we stayed in recently stank so much of the thing that you constantly walked around checking what you had stood in!
For a break from cycling we have been doing other things aside from swimming. First we climbed up a fire tower - picture a power pylon but with a small garden shed stuck on the top for some poor sole to sit in and presumably spot fires in. Well, we were able to climb up this precarious thing and see the mountainous hills from a totally different angle. Strangely, from several hundred feet up, the forest seems to go on forever and the horizon seemed completely flat. Another alternative was running - although in the heat this didn't really result in much!
Anyway our library is shutting and the computer is flashing. Expect an update soon. Fingers crossed for rain/coolness!
Thursday, 17 June 2010
Illinois to Missouri
Yesterday's ride was mainly flat (the flattest day yet!), however the traffic was horrendous and not too friendly to cyclists, resulting in one member of our group, Joyce, being clipped by a coal truck. Needless to say, she was very shaken up and made the decicion this morning to go home. Joyce says that she's been thinking about doing this for some time and this experience was the last straw for her. We wish her well and will miss her dearly-the group will not be the same without her but she is happy that she'll be seeing her husband and her pets again! Remember Joyce, please come visit us in Wales sometime!
Last night we stayed at a campsite (well, more like field in the middle of a residential area with little grass to pitch your tent) in Chester, Illinois, official home of Popeye the sailor man! The town has a museum and statues of all the characters around the place-very amusing!
Today brought much excitement as we crossed the Mississippi River into the state of Moussouri. As the bridge road is so narrow we had to cycle 2 abreast with the van escorting is behind to keep cars/trucks/general traffic out of the way so they won't kill us! It was really nice to go across as a group but there was a general feeling of loss amongst us as Joyce has left to return home. However, the road goes on and so does the pedaling on onwards we will go!! We are in Moussouri. Illinois dissapeared so quickly! And incase you havn't picked up on my vibes yet, let me just clarify, AMERICA IS NOT FLAT. In fact, it is nothing but hilss and mountains. We have today entered the Ozark mountains-hills, hills, hills again. Actually, they never really stopped (apparently, Illinois is flat, except for the part that we went through!). Anyway, thats my moaning out the way again!
Today was a lovely day though, the weather cooled, although we did get caught in another thunder storm! It either seems to thunder storm or is 100 degrees! Ten miles from our destination, we stopped at an air conditioned brewery (Me, Robin, Dawn, John and Hugh) and sampled 8 different beers (I don't even like beer but it was fab to do something other than cycling and it seemed to go down quite well!) Maybe a little too well as those last ten miles felt like 40!!! We have heard lots of horror stories about the state of Moussouri from other cyclists; mainly to do with the hills and the traffic but today wasn't so bad. We've done worse hills! I'll be sorry I said that probably-I don't know what tomorrow will bring!
Last night we stayed at a campsite (well, more like field in the middle of a residential area with little grass to pitch your tent) in Chester, Illinois, official home of Popeye the sailor man! The town has a museum and statues of all the characters around the place-very amusing!
Today brought much excitement as we crossed the Mississippi River into the state of Moussouri. As the bridge road is so narrow we had to cycle 2 abreast with the van escorting is behind to keep cars/trucks/general traffic out of the way so they won't kill us! It was really nice to go across as a group but there was a general feeling of loss amongst us as Joyce has left to return home. However, the road goes on and so does the pedaling on onwards we will go!! We are in Moussouri. Illinois dissapeared so quickly! And incase you havn't picked up on my vibes yet, let me just clarify, AMERICA IS NOT FLAT. In fact, it is nothing but hilss and mountains. We have today entered the Ozark mountains-hills, hills, hills again. Actually, they never really stopped (apparently, Illinois is flat, except for the part that we went through!). Anyway, thats my moaning out the way again!
Today was a lovely day though, the weather cooled, although we did get caught in another thunder storm! It either seems to thunder storm or is 100 degrees! Ten miles from our destination, we stopped at an air conditioned brewery (Me, Robin, Dawn, John and Hugh) and sampled 8 different beers (I don't even like beer but it was fab to do something other than cycling and it seemed to go down quite well!) Maybe a little too well as those last ten miles felt like 40!!! We have heard lots of horror stories about the state of Moussouri from other cyclists; mainly to do with the hills and the traffic but today wasn't so bad. We've done worse hills! I'll be sorry I said that probably-I don't know what tomorrow will bring!
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