Date: 2007-04-30
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Miles today: 0.0

4-29-071359 miles totalHouston, MoI woke up late, but we still left about the same time as usual. We decided that we would eat our first breakfast right there in Eminence because we had heard of a pretty good restaurant.It turns out that it was just OK and below average on the coffee scale.We did get to listen to a dad explain to his daughter what a Jack Russell was. He said it's a small dog that jumps a lot. Mrs Gorp added that it's a small dog that loves to chase bicycles too. :-))We headed west out of town and were greeted right away with hills...lots of hills.We would get up one steep hill and roll down quickly so we could climb the next steep hill. :-))I was just beginning to think that was what we were going to ride all day when we crested one hill and could see that it was still rolling, but not nearly as steep. We were on a plateau and could see it lasted for miles.We saw a fire tower and Mrs Gorp thought we needed more stuff to do, so we climbed to the top of Flat Rock Fire Tower.I'm used to the fire towers on the AT. They are 40 or 50 feet in the air...and that seems tall, but this fire tower had 150 steps. It was the tallest one by far that I've ever climbed and after getting all the way to the top, we found that the cabin was locked.We enjoyed the long range views and could even see the mountains we had just come through. The good part was that the mountains were smaller in the direction we were headed. :-))We rode on and I was enjoying all the songbirds. They have been out for some time now and really make it nice riding through these hills.The highlight was when I spotted a scarlet tananger. He was beautiful!!I also saw brilliant bluebirds, pileated woodpeckers, cardinals, redwing blackbirds, purple martens, hawks and even though I couldn't see it, I heard the call of my favorite song bird to wake up to on the AT. I'm not sure what it's called, but it has four distinct calls and keeps repeating them. Those calls really relax me.We headed into Summersville and found a small restaurant open so we could have our second breakfast. :-))We both had breakfast burritos and they were very good and they were huge. I couldn't believe it when I went to pay the bill for both of us and it was only $6.00.It was 50 degrees out this morning, but it turned hot today and I was feeling drained. I wanted Mrs Gorp to feel good, so I let her get ahead of me. She got farther and farther ahead. I was making her feel better and better. :-))I think the heat just zapped my energy. It was 17 degrees above normal today and ended up in the upper 80's.It was still nice to be riding through Missouri. This is a beautiful state.We came to a large, old quarry that was filled with water. It looked like it would be fun to explore while scuba diving.When we got to Houston, we saw the first of the two motels listed and I didn't really like the looks of it. I called the second and found out where they were and it turned out to be much nicer.We had made arrangements with Lee Perry from Rolla, Mo that we would get together when we got here.I called and he and his wife drove down here and brought lots of snacks...including some cheese and crackers and some very good Missouri wine for Mrs Gorp and some special beer for me. The beer was Leinenkugel's Creamy Dark Lager. I had one and I got a buzz. :-))We stayed and talked about the trip for about an hour. He even brought us some town shirts from Rolla to wear on this trip.Mrs Gorp said she was hungry again and Lee and Rachel had a car!! This was the first time we have been in a car since way back in the first few days of this bike ride. It really felt strange...and you get places much faster. :-))We ended up at Miller's Grill and I had shrimp pasta while Mrs Gorp and Lee had grilled salmon and Rachel had grilled mahi mahi.It was delicious!!Lee insisted on paying. He said it was trail magic. :-))Lee and Rachel...you both turned a really good day into a great day!! Thank you, thank you!! :-))They had a long ride home, so after getting a few pictures, they took off for home.Another great day on the Trans Am Bicycle Trail. :-))4-30-07Marshfield, Mo66 miles today1426 miles totalI guess I just can't drink beer anymore. Lee Perry and his wife Rachel, brought down some beer and wine yesterday. I had a beer and this morning I couldn't wake up. :-))Mrs Gorp was up and getting ready and I still had my face planted in my pillow.My motivation to get up was the fact that I knew there was coffee waiting for me less than half a mile away at a McDonald's. :-))We were packed and because McDonald's was downhill, all I had to do was sit on the saddle on my bike and coast to my coffee.I finally started coming to life after the coffee kicked in and I ended up having another high energy day.It seems Mrs Gorp and I are trading those high energy days...if we ever get together and have a high energy day on the same day, we might be able to get our first century ride in. (That's biker lingo for riding 100 miles in a day)We are getting to the west side of the Ozark Mountains and the terrain is still rolling, but not as many big hills to climb.Two of the things I noticed right off today was that #1 We were definitely getting more of a western feel to our surroundings and #2 The people passing in the cars are much friendlier and a lot of them are waving at us now...that's nice!!This part of Missouri is beautiful. We were riding by places that had some awesome views...and the songbirds were out in full force again.We had gone about 15 miles and came to a feed store/convenient store and went in for a Gatorade. There was a young man and young woman running the place and we talked to them for about 15 minutes. The girl kept warning us about a big hill coming up in 10 miles. I thanked her for ruining my morning and we left. :-))It turns out that what is a "big hill" to one person, wasn't so big to someone who has rode a bike up mountains for a month.We kept riding and had a bunch of dogs come out after us today, but I showed real restraint and didn't spray any.One big bulldog almost got it because he was trying to bite my right leg, but he just couldn't time his biting to my pedal stroke. :-))Mrs Gorp started saving turtles. She stopped and moved 3 turtles off the road. She's such a good person. :-))We got to Hartville and I was really feeling like we were in a western town. It's hard to explain the difference between an eastern town and a western town, but it may have something to do with goats and cows in the city limits and guys and gals with cowboy boots and hats and big belt buckles walking around.We stopped at a place called Mom's Cafe and had a couple hotdogs, then had homemade apple pie with ice cream for desert.The waitress there told us about all the hills between there and Marshfield...our destination for the night.Once again, the "big hill" thing is not always the same for each person because even though there were some hills, there were not what I would call "big hills". :-))It started getting hot and Mrs Gorp said the temperature gauge on her bike (in the sun) reached 100 degrees. It does feel much hotter riding on the asphalt, but today's real temperature was in the mid 80's.We stopped in some shade in front of an Amish home and took a break and aired out our feet. There wasn't any cars coming, so I stretched out on the road...until I did hear one coming. :-))We rode into Marshfield and didn't stop until we got to I-44 where the motels were.When we got our room, Mrs Gorp layed down and I went and got her a bag of ice to put on her leg.She was talking yesterday about pushing harder gears to toughen up so she could keep beating me to the top of the hills. Well, I think she pushed to hard and she felt a muscle pop just above her knee.She said it only hurts when she pedals. We're hoping the ice and a little rest will keep her rolling along. :-))My good ol' buddy Chief called and said he got my photo card and posted some photos of the bike ride. Once again I have to say that I'm NOT responsible for the captions he writes. He's got a good imagination...if you know what I mean. :-))Oh yeah, I had a steak fajita for dinner tonight.Another great day on the Trans Am Bicycle Trail. :-))5-1-07Greenfield, Mo.57.75 miles today1484 miles totalThis morning started off with Starbuck's. The room we were in had a coffee maker and I've been carrying a bag of Starbuck's with me since the beginning of this ride. :-))We had the continental breakfast and were packed and riding by 7:20am.It was too mild out this morning...one of the warmest mornings yet at about 60 degrees.The first thing I noticed was the name of a plaza we rode by...Prairie Plaza. That got me excited to think that we are just about out of the mountains for a while.We rode out of Marshfield and it was the easiest riding I've ever done...for the first 20 miles or so.I've noticed that my legs are strong now and the riding is much easier than in the beginning...and this flat terrain we hit early was simply a pleasure to pedal through.It didn't last though because we got back into hilly riding when we started hitting a bunch of small rivers. It was still very nice riding through this western Missouri land.I spotted a bird flying away that had a tail feather that was about a foot long. I know I've seen them before, but don't know what they are called. Then I saw another bird fly above me and he had about a 6 inch tail, but it was split like a "v".we stopped in Walnut Grove for lunch and I had a slice of pizza and some corn chips to keep my energy high.Mrs Gorp has me moving turtles off the road now. There are a lot of the little buggers too.I passed by one that was still alive, but it's shell was cracked from being hit. Mrs Gorp stopped to help it and just as she stopped, a car came by her and run the poor little fellow over.I can tell the hills are getting smaller by the maximum speed I hit each day. Four days ago I hit 44mph, three days ago I hit 43mph, two days ago I hit 42mph and today I only hit 40mph.We got to Greenfield and got a room at an old motel. The phone doesn't work and the TV has turn knobs and gets three channels. :-))The beds are layed out so I can't see the TV from mine, but that's OK, I don't watch much anyway.We got more ice for Mrs Gorp's knee and while she was reating peacefully, she started talking about how nice a Subway sandwich would taste.I rode up and got us some Subway sandwiches for dinner, then walked across the street and got Mrs Gorp a hot fudge sundae and got me a large vanilla milkshake. :-))She's getting good at "milking" this sore knee thing. Ha!!The rain is here and supposed to be here for a few days, so we'll see how the weather is in the morning. We would like to make it to Pittsburg, Ks tomorrow.(I do feel sorry for Mrs Gorp having to deal with a sore knee, but I can't tell her that) ;-))Another great day on the Trans Am Bicycle Trail. :-))