Sorry for the late post as I had “network”issues last night & no communications.
After a 96 mile day yesterday, I rested pretty good last night & after a quick hotel breakfast this morning I headed out to another day of rolling hills & straight 4 lane roads .It was a nice day with clear skies & temps reaching the low 80s. I made it 3 hours before my first break under a highway overpass. Then it was about 35 miles to the town of Macon where I stopped @ a McDonalds for a break & food. Riding the 4 lane is fine for making good time, but very boring. The wind is still not my friend and it is to the point that you actually look forward to facing an up hill climb on the road as it blocks the wind for a time as you climb. The temp today reached the high 80s & I could feel it! My bodies thermostat is still not used to this, but it is still preferable to riding with gloves, pants & a jacket. You stay alert by constantly being on the lookout for the typical road debris of broken glass, broken tarp & tie down straps, misc bolts, roadkill & the remains of blown truck tires.
I finally rolled in to the town of Shelbine with 86 miles done. My plan was to camp @ the “city Lake” but when I stopped at the local gas station I found that they were not opened until Memorial Day weekend. But a few hundred feet up the road was a hotel, that proved cheap & clean.
Missouri as it turns out is an interesting & beautiful state, just not where I am riding! I have missed the birth place of Walt Disney, J.C.Penny & Mark Twain. The reason I missed all of this is because of riding on a 4 lane & being in a hurry. Done correctly one should do this ride with atleast 3 months set aside to really see the country. I will admit that I have been in a bit of a rush. But I will consider this trip a warm up ,with the promise to do it again someday when I have 3 months to give it. Maybe when I get old.
Frank's Coast to Coast Ride for Justin 