Farmington, MO to Murphysboro, IL 88 Miles, Armadillo

7/14/11
We've left the hills of MO and are taking on the hills of IL, KY, and VA.  Looking ahead, we see nothing but ups and downs, but they are still shorter than MO.  The Mississippi is still flooding.  This area had a four inch rain storm a few days ago. The river at Chester is only about a mile wide. We were told that the river was 1.5 miles across today. The route today took us atop some Mississippi levees.  There were large areas of flooding along the way.  I saw a house with sand bags around the foundation. In fact there was water over the road in one area.  The route reminded me of the areas we rode in the Netherlands last year.  Water was higher on the river side of the levee than the fields on the other side.  There were a bunch of egrets along the way - beautiful.

Road Kill.   What animal did we see as road kill the most through MO.  A hint.  I have never seen this animal as road kill in Michigan.  I don't think there are any in MI.  Pete and I were hoping to see a live one, but the ---------- was a no show.

The roads in MO were very narrow.  No shoulder at all. The bikers knew it, but I experienced it in the car too.  The speed limit was 55 most of the time on roads that should not have been more than 35. There were very limited sight lines too.  Since I did not have to get anywhere fast I held up traffic once in a whole.   I hope IL has done better.

Pete's fan club wondering why the crazy guy is out in that sun.

Eastern MO has many winery s

The saints gathered by the River, the beautiful, the beautiful River.

Isn't that guy on the left ever going to change that orange shirt?

Pete is happy to be in his home State.

Relaxing in Murphysboro IL

Bike Trouble/Flats.  Phil & Pete have had one flat each.  Dave has had two plus one tire with a big hole in it.Pete has had two broken spokes and one tire out of round.  Pete also replaced back wheel because it had a crack in it.  Dave's crank needed lubrication by a professional. Otherwise they are working well.

Since we could not find a suitable camp ground  near Murphysboro- there was one with pit toilets and no showers - we are in a motel again.  The guys are welcoming the AC after 88 hot miles.

I'm reading  West of Here, by Jonathan Evison.  My daughter-in-law Kristy recommended it.  It's about some folks whose whole life is an adventure.  I have been calling this trip an adventure but I am wondering if what we are doing is in the same category as Evison describes it.  "Only in adventure were the senses fully engaged, the life force fully harnessed, the intellect fully immersed.  Only then could one feel the magnetic forces of chaos pulling them toward the true nature of all things. And only when these forces dragged you by  the collar to the very precipice of terrible understanding, and forced you to look down into the abyss, only then did the fighting begin in earnest, only then were you truly alive."    We are having an adventure, but not exactly looking into the abyss.

Phil

Ellington MO to Farmington MO

7/13/11  Temps are a lot cooler today.  It rained buckets during the night in Ellington.  We even went back to sleep for another hour.  By the time Dave & Pete left it was drizzling lightly.  We were glad we decided to take a motel.  In the morning we met two young women from Norway just leaving the same motel heading into the rain west. 

These two are from Norway.  Ellington MO

It was mostly cloudy during the day. The hills continued.  Dave said he never shifted on a route as much as he did then.

Motel Ellington MO

The Ellington locals who were full of advice.

The reason we stayed in a motel in Ellington

We headed for Farmington, but stopped about 10 miles short at St Joe State Park.  Again we had a level grassy site, with electricity, and a hot shower.  Life is good.

Tomorrow we head for Murphysboro IL crossing the Mississippi at Chester IL.

Phil

Joplin Visit

Phil has been keeping up this blog for Pete and me over the past several weeks, and has made so many excellent entries that it is difficult to come in the middle and add to his observations.  Due to unexplained diarrhea last night, today was an “under the weather” day for me and I drove the van while Pete and Phil dealt with temperature conditions that lead to severe weather alerts called “excessive heat warning” that states that we should reschedule strenuous activities and take breaks in air conditioned buildings.  Sure…..!!    We do drink a lot of water as recommended. 

 However, Pete and I (Dave) did get to Joplin this past Friday, and observed a town in distress.  A major swath of the town has been removed by a fearful series of tornadoes that literally cleared the area of buildings and left mounds of debris that is being cleared by the city and volunteers. 

I have spent a considerable amount of time in New Orleans since Katrina, and the two have some significant differences..  Katrina left 90,000 square miles of destruction, Joplin less than 100.  Katrina left about 1900 dead, Joplin about 160.

With Katrina, most houses were left standing and in need of rehabilitation (with some notable exceptions in the Lower Ninth and along the Gulf Coast up to a mile inland); in Joplin, most affected houses simply vanished with some on the fringes in need of repair.  With Katrina, the infrastructure necessary for self-help was so destroyed, and the population so dispersed, that the response was almost entirely from the outside, especially in the New Orleans area.  In Joplin, the unaffected neighborhoods nearby are responding to their neighborhoods in heroic ways.  In both communities, there are views as far as one can see of empty blocks where houses and businesses once stood.   

FEMA has also learned a thing or two about response to disasters, and appears to be responding in more helpful ways.  Churches are stepping up, and volunteers are starting to appear willing to help.  The community does not yet seem to be organized for the long haul, but that may follow.  After touring the affected area, there is room for our churches and denominational disaster response agency (CRWRC) to respond, but there are also great needs in other areas of the country following a rather active weather pattern this spring,

I did meet with two organizations who are responding, and both have received extensive donations for the community.  The Abundant Life Christian Center is one of these agencies.  The pastor, Larry Bjorklund has made his large facility available for housing volunteers and the parking lot is full of semi-trailers full of donations.  There are medical services offered, and the volunteers are going out into the community to work on requests that come to the attention of the pastor. Interest in partnering does not appear to be important, but there is a need and desire to have volunteers come to the community and stay at the church facilities. Their phone number is 417-782-6533.

Another is the Joplin Family Worship Center, which is on the fringe of the destroyed area. Richard Yeager is a deacon there who has assumed some of the administrative responsibilities.  He generously agreed to take Pete and I for a tour of the area, and gave a continuing narrative of the changes to the neighborhoods caused by the tornado. He spoke of a three year plan and commitment to the community, and said there were three other centers responding.  The secretary of the church, Charity Bethke, is interested in volunteers coming to the Center to work in the community and at the center.  Her phone number is 417-623-6134, Ext 10.



Joplin Neighborhood

Hospital wich was knocked off its foundation.

 One of the places destroyed is the hospital.  Above is a picture of this huge building that was literally moved off its foundation, and the top two floors were ripped off.  The other posted pictures show the extent of the damage to the neighborhood, with houses and large businesses completely demolished. 

Thunderstorms on the horizon.

 7/11/11 In our goal to ride every mile, Phil brought Pete back 14 miles to Sommersville where he rode solo back to Alley Springs.  Dave was feeling under the weather, and decided not to ride .  When Pete returned to the camp, Phil  joined him.

Ozarks

Jacks Fork River swimmin'  hole

Traveling through Eminence MO

Campsite at Ozark National Scenic Rivers

Alley Springs to Eminence is about six miles.  Our second breakfast was there. Ellington was another 26 miles further.  You'd think that is would be a piece of cake.  NOT.  Pete said these were the steepest hills he experienced on this trip, and he was in his granny gear more than ever before.  In fact he and I both experienced our front wheels coming off the ground on a couple of occasions. We think there were some 12% grades.  The temp 100 at 1:00 when we had lunch.  Pete decided to ride an additional twelve miles and started out solo -  Phil had had it.  Thunderstorms moved in, so Phil and Dave picked him up and drove back to Ellington and an air conditioned motel.

Hartville to Alley Springs 67 miles

7/12/11
The trip from Springfield back to Hartford took about an hour.  Dave and Pete left on their bikes about 8:30 AM.
Did we mention hills?  How about heat?  To set up a tent in 100 degree heat after negotiating the hills is kinda the pits.  But we found a great camp ground at the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.  This was a national park with hot showers, grassy sites, and the Jacks Fork River to swim in.  We sorta cooled off but the heat continued all night.

Micky D's is a favorite blog spot.

Pete working on his broken spoke in Sommersville MO.

Actually we drove 14 miles ahead to get to this campsite.  We have arrived in Sommersville with Dave's bike on the back of the car because he had a flat.  Pete came along and caught up with us there.  He discovered a broken spoke.  We used the gazebo in the middle of the town park as a repair shop.  Fortunately Dave had a supply of spokes and they figured out how replace it.  The good news is the wheel was not out of round.  Sommersville had no lodging, so we drove ahead to Alley Springs.

Phil

Another bike shop run to Springfield MO

7/10/11

The Road

Pete's Fan Club

Dave and Pete rode 72 miles from Ash Grove MO to Hartville, MO.  Up and down, and do it over again. It's 103 degrees again. They arrived in Hartville about 2:00.  Dave was having trouble with his crank - slipping.  We figured that the only bike fixit shop would be in Springfield about an hour away by car.  So load the bikes and off we went.  Likely the bike shop would be closed on a Sunday, but we drove to one anyway to find out when they would be open on Monday.  This one was open!  The crew jumped right on it and lubed the crank well and we were otta there in 45 minutes.  There was no lodging in Hartville so we are in a La Quinta Inn in Springfield.  Air Conditioning on a 100 degree day is a dripping of Grace.

Phil

We're not in Kansas anymore - Toto.

7/10/11 Pittsburg KS to Ash Grove MO 75 Miles.

Campsite Ash Grove MO, City Park/Pool

The Show Me State.

Laundry in Ash Grove MO

MO is truly different from KS.  The Ozarks. Hills.  Short, steep ups, and fast, short downs, with a lot of momentum to start up again.  It's also hot again in the high 90's

Rusty took this picture of a typical MO road.  They are very narrow too.

Ash Grove calls itself the City of Trees.  This whole area is known for it's hard woods.  We arrived about 1:30 PM and were able to relax at the pool and do our laundry.  Dinner included sweet (not very sweet) corn which an older couple gave to Dave when he befriended them.  Bed by 8:30 PM 'cause the alarm is going off at 4:30 AM.

Dave saw this couple shucking their corn.  They gave us some.

Phil