Shaun Rides His Bike

The weather forecast didn’t look good, and I knew today was going to be a long day in the wind, but it turned to be my favorite day yet!

But it started off inauspiciously. I didn’t sleep very well, and I was really tired when I got up, and after studying the weather, I was half-convinced to spend another day in Springfield. If my motel had been in a nicer area, I might have done it, but there wasn’t anything interesting near me, and I decided that, if I had to ride my bike to find something to do, I might as well, just keep going.

It began raining shortly after I left. It was heavy rain, it was pretty cold and very windy, and I was soon completely drenched. I didn’t want to stop anywhere because I knew I would get really cold as soon as I did, so I just kept slogging along.

Then I saw the Gay Parita gas station, and I knew I had to stop. It had stopped raining by now, but I was wet and cold, and determined to stop, take a picture and leave. But when I got there, George, who owns it with his partner, Barbara, was regaling a couple English visitors, Darren and Jenny, with stories and history, and I realized I’d be there a few minutes. I don’t regret it!

The property is filled with memorabilia, and is also set up for outdoor entertainment, with a covered stage. If it had been a hot summer day, it would have been a miraculous oasis! But I had to keep moving to stay warm, so I said goodbye.

Almost the entire ride today was on REALLY quiet farm roads. There were a few stretches where I saw no vehicles for an hour at a time. The rolling hills of Missouri were much smaller now, and I realized, after a while, that the side-wind wasn’t bothering me at all. It was basically from due south, which made it perpendicular to most of my route. A few times I turned directly into it, and was reminded what a 30-40 MPH headwind is like, but I also had a few spots where I was heading north, and hitting 20 MPH (on a loaded touring bike)! Once I yelled, “I’m Lance Armstrong!”

So many dogs chased me again, and I was on the lookout for really friendly ones, but didn’t see any that I trusted enough to stop and call them over. One little chihuahua mix really cracked me up. He and his brother came running out to chase me, but his brother stopped almost immediately. The little guy chased me for a long time, even crossing the street. He sounded so fierce, but he was just cute.

In Lockwood, Missouri, I had to stop because someone’s cows escaped the field and were milling around near the road. A guy in a pickup truck was blocking the road, and asked me if I could go around to avoid spooking them while he figured out what to do. I tried to get around them, but hit a dead-end and came back in time to see him and another guy shoo them into a nearby field.

Tomorrow, I will leave Missouri, enter and leave Kansas, and enter Oklahoma!