Bums Rush.

I am not being allowed to ride on Hwy 50 as planned. I have been taking
side and back rodes. Today I will try again. I am in a new state, Indiana. Maybe they will be agreeable to my riding. We will see. If not I may have to find some routes more campatable to law enforcement, or maybe drive farther East. So far I have biked 1850 miles. I guess as the old saying goes " It's all part of the journey."

Gateway to the West.

Another nice day of rest. Took Her Highness to the St. Louis Arch. Also had a nice stroll along the Mississippi River. Beautiful day temp about 85 degrees, all in all very pleasant.
Tomorrow back to peddaling Hwy 50.

Meet Me In St. Louis.

Well, the weather in St. Louis is stormy.. My wife Shelli had her flight cancelled and rerouted later in the day on Sunday June 26, because of airport flooding. Wayne my driver was also delayed and rerouted on his trip back to Reno. It's nice for me, I get to take an extra day off. Today we will take a trip by "car" to the Arch. Shelli also wants to see Harrah's, she has a vested interest in thier properties.

Changing of the Guard.

My SAG driver Wayne, is leaving for Reno in the morning. He's been a valued helper and friend. He has to return to work, at least thats what he calls it. But he has been a valuable asset to my ride.
Now my wife arrives tommorrow to help me finish the ride. Could be the weak link in my chain. Only time will tell.
Today I was peddling through rural Missouri and I stopped for a banana and some water. I was curious as to why a German Shepard was comming towards me with his tail between his legs. Then I started to hear the thunder. Well I thought I could out run the little storm. Wrong! Luckily I rolled into a town just as the storm was unleashing its fury. I was able to find shelter in a nick of time. A lightning strike hit within 100 yards of my shelter. the thunder clap was ear shattering.

"He took the Katy."

Rode from Lee's Summit to Sedalia Mo. Stopped at a Mc Donalds for a strawberry milkshake. A nice man approached us about our intended route. Hwy 50. He informed us that Hwy 50 was under a lot of repair, and long waits could be expected. He then said that he was a retired park ranger. He told us that an alternate route could be used to get to St. Louis. Katy Trail State Park. It's a restored railroad line, turned into a park. 225 miles long, it meanders along the Missouri river, from Clinton to St Charles Mo.
I decided to avoid Hwy 50 for a while and "Take The Katy."
Very plesant surroundings. Riding on crushed rock, avoiding Turtles slowly crossing the trail and thousands of moths and butterflies.
The Missouri river is very high with swampy areas all along the trail. I was told that, it is expected to rise to well above flood stage and cover the trail I have been traveling along.

Booted Off The I-35.

Great morning, Wind at my back Hwy50/I-35 out in front of me, I am going to make time. Siren screeching breaks the morning traffic noises. And it's me they are after. NO bicycle riding on the I-35. I was informed that Old Hwy 50 ran along I-35 and I could take that.
The Interstate has 15 foot shoulders, Old Hwy 50 has 1 foot or no shoulders. He seemed to be concerned with my safety.
But Old Hwy 50 was very lovely. Manicured lawns and well cared for homes, in all a very nice ride.
Stopped by an old abandoned Church, overrun by wild flowers and shade trees, that I am sure my Mother would have liked.
Tomorrow on to Jefferson City Mo.

Retraction.

I take it back, Kansas is not so bad, the wind was at my back today.
Passed the 1500 mile mark on the odometer. I am making progress! Slow but sure.

Deflated!

First flat. I had not changed a tire in 25 years. "Piece of cake." Next morning flat again. I just did not see the other tiny hole. 'checked it in the bathroom sink and little air bubbles were escaping, so had a double hole. Now a thump has developed in my front tire. Every revolution. Did not have that problem prior to my "piece of cake" tire change. But I am making do. Bought a gel seat, hopefully that will resolve some issues.
Kansas is a wonderful place to leave. Wind, Heat, corn fields, miles of nothing. Great steaks.

Over the Rockies.

Felt good, beautiful day. Should be over the top in no time. Started the climb, cooking along at 7 miles an hour, should be there in no time. 45 minutes into the climb and the sign says 7 miles to the summit. I settled in at a very respectable 5 miles an hour. About a third of the way up two younger bicyclists flashed by me going the other way. Downhill. I busted my rear all the way to the top. Probably 2 hours total. I sat down at the summit and the two bicyclists pulled up 15 mins later. They greeted me and asked if I was the guy that they had passed going downhill. I proudly said yes. I then asked if they had gotten a ride back up to the summit. " No we just turned around and rode back up."
Must have had the wind at thier backs.

Out of Nevada

Got to Delta Utah this evening. I was cooking right along. Climbing up one of the passes I inadvertantly lost my cell phone. My hindquarters are expressing thier displeasure being in the saddle all day. I did my after ride stretch and got a nasty cramp in my right hamstring. But when I think about my little problems, a fellow I met along the route makes my problems seem very minor. His name was Mike Rumsowea. I came up on him along side of hwy 50, 40 miles west of Delta. He was carrying a cross that replicated Jesus's Cross. and he was carrying it from Sfo to Mo. He was making this extremely arduous journey, in what he called the "Walk For Christ."


My SAG wagon driver Wayne Zulker, has been an inspiration. He is always waiting at the end of the day by the pool having a tall cool one.

golden Gate

Rode From Placerville to Sfo.  Shelli my wife wanted to see the city.  Windy but beautiful.