Day 33 Eminence to Houston

This trip is definately not for the faint hearted. The truck drivers today have been horrendousf.Too fast and too close. I have fitted a third eye to my helmet and I am closely watching every truck that comes up behind me. I am beginning to wonder if this Trans America route is safe for cyclists given the totally inconsiderate and aggressive driving of far too many vehicle users over here.
I passed an Amish family in tbeir horse and cart and wondered how it must be for them having to put up with this  every day of their lives.
Anyway enough of that. Today's ride through the Ozark mountains was superb with incredible scenery. Dare I say it but even the headwind was refreshing. Everybody chose to take breakfast at 5 30AM (Aaagh) except me who chose to spend an extra hour in the very comfortable double bed that came with the cabins we stayed in last night.
Understandably there is concern about the heat and most of the group do not want to get caught in the afternoon sun and that includes my stop and stare companions. However  it doesn't seem to bother me. I tend to ride well within my comfort zone (slow!) ezpecially uphill, drink loads, and have plenty of stops and it works for me.
Strangely I caught up Ellen and Kelly at 19 miles but instead of chasing them at higb speed down the road I chose to supplement my early one banana breakfast with omelette, hash browns pie and coffee. These are no ordinary women by the way. Kelly was on the American Olympic pursuit cycling development team and Ellen must have come from tbe planet 'Krypton'.
We will shortly be entering Kansas which is going to be even hotter so  unless my riding companions come round to my way of thinking I suspect I will be riding 'tout seule' until we get through this hot spell.

Miles today 53
Total         1520

Day 32 Rest day in Eminence

Tbis little town is serious riding country anx a big watersports centre. Most of thr group have gone tubing for the  day (floating down river in an inflated tyre tube) but I decided to give it a miss and indulge in some retail therapy, once the usual chores of long diztance cycle touring were out of the way. After a leisurely stroll into town up a steep gravely path, down a steep gravely path, up an even steeper gravely path all under the blistering heat of the sun  I found myself enjoying a Reuben sandwich  at Margies place in the company of Marlane, Vivian and Emily, three lovely ladies who are all members of Eastern Star, a Christian fellowship group with some connection to the Freemasons. Once we'd established that I didn't know our Royal Family in person (much to their disappointment)  they illuminated my day telling me all about their life stories, current boyfriends and how much they all loved our Royal family apart from the White Witch Camilla ( their words not mine . . . I did try and explain that she had been harshly treated by the media and that she was quite a nice person really but they were having none of it )
After a  brief circumnavigation of Eminence it was apparent tbat retail opportunities were limited and on my way back to the campsite (well about 5 yards dlown the road ) I bumped into Dolo who persuaded me to join her for an ice cream where we also found my three new lady friends. Marlane insizted that we should come back to ber house for tea and that we did. Unfortunately she had lost her key so it ended up that I had to squeeze my newly slimmed down torso into a small rear window to reach the latch which to relief all round I managed to accomplsh with some style. Despite her huge collection of teapots from around the world we didn't actually get any tea but nevertheless were treated to a tour of her house which was like a museum of her life.
After giving us a much appreciated lift to the campsite the day was rounded off by a bbq with the group followed by a stroll down the Ozak river with Greg Ellen and Kelly. I also manaved to swap the spices for 2 fuel bottles with Jack and althoigh it's  more weight I  AM NOW RELIEVED OF THE BURDON OF HAVING TO RIDE LIKE A LUNATIC TO GET INTO CAMP FOR 4 30PM.

YIPPEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 31 Lesterville to Eminence

Despite the promise of a brilliantly entertaining post today don't build your hopes up. I am after all a Yorkshireman and suffering from a mild dose of bloggers block. I think that all my creative juices evaporated in the torrid heat today. As you may have already gathered today was a difficult day. Apart from the seemingly routine issues of the three H's The main problem was the lack of any stopping places for the last 25 miles and VERY STEEP hills all the way. 25 miles may not seem far but iin these conditions it's no joke.
After an early 6AM breakfast most of the group were on the road by 7AM (including the female half of stop and stare) in an attempt to get to camp before the intensity of the afternoon sun and we are talking well in excess of 100F here !
Greg and I saw no reason to change our well established riding plan. So that was that . I had a nice piece of pie at lunchtime and apart from the occasional obnoxious Missouri motorist nothing else to report except that we proudly rode into camp in our usual position of last. Oh not quite correct. Greg bailed 10 miles from the end and rode into town in the back of a pick up truck sipping an ice cool beer. No further comment necessary :) 

Miles today 53
Total         1467

Day 30 - Farmington to Lesterville (guest blogger Hadley)

Our ride today started out on a really rough highway - the shoulders were wide, but were also covered with gravel and debris and were dangerously pothole-ridden.  The traffic was heavy (lots of giant trucks) and we had one unpleasant encounter with a driver who barked aggressively out his window, telling us to get off the road. 

When we got to the first major turn of the day, we met several of the faster riders who told us the news that Jill (who had been riding ahead of us) had been in an accident and had been taken to hospital.  When we arrived at camp this evening we found out that a combination of a truck driving too close to her and the rough shoulder had caused her to fall, breaking her scapula.  She may need surgery and won't be able to ride on with us, at least for some time.  This is really unfortunate news...  we know that she (like each of us) has a lot invested in this tour and must be really disappointed that she won't be riding on.  And Jill is a wonderful, positive, supportive member of our group and we wish she could be riding with us still! 

Cyclists are so vulnerable on the road... we're so small relative to the cars and trucks that whip by us, and we put a ton of trust in the drivers of those cars & trucks.  We have to be ready to make snap decisions and handle the bike the best we can in unexpected situations.  I'm sure we'll all be riding on tomorrow with strong awareness of this and with extra caution.

Rob has pledged to compose a brilliantly entertaining blog post for you tomorrow, telling tales of our stinking hot ride (it reached 104 degrees today!) into the town of Eminence, where we'll stay for a rest day before tackling the Ozark Mountains. 
Miles Today  49
Total            1410

Day 29 Chester to Farmington

Today we left Illinois and entered Missouri crossing the Mississippi by the bridge featured in the movie 'In the Heat of the Night' featuring Sydney Poitier.  The heat and humidity were overpowering today making it difficult to stay hydrated so although less than 50 miles the hilly terrain made it another tough day. Chester is also the home of 'Popeye'  see statue below. We also had amajor breakdown with the trailer on Dolo's bike but a local bikeshop 20 miles away came to the rescue and sent out a man with a spare part. Can you imagine that happening in the UK.
Miles Today 49
Total          1361

Day 28 Carbondale to Chester

Today we had the opportunity of an alternate route riding along the levees of the mississippi flood plain. Only problem being that said river having had its worst floods in nearly 100 years meant that we might get so far and have to turn back. With our riding group increased to 6 and an early start of 7am we decided to take the risk. As it happened we managed to get through with the help of the local vicar who drove ahead to check that the route he suggested was possible on bikes. Amazing.
And we were rewarded with a wonderful flat ride on top of the levees with panoramic views of the mississippi and its flood plain. Places to stop today were few and far brtween but the lady at a post office we passed phoned up her friends a few miles down the road and got them to open their restaurant 'Bottoms Up' early so we could have lunch. Once we reached the main part of the river we had a rather unpleasant ten mile ride along busy roads with far too many coal trucks.

Miles Today 54
Total           1310

Day 27 Rest day in Carbondale

And how we have looked forward to this one. We are in a motel in some dodvy part of town and apart from the hookers marching up and down, pimps lurking in the shadows and drug dealers driving by doing deals it's awesome - the showers are hot and the cockroaches keep to their side of the bathroom. So tasks for today include: LAUNDRY, VISIT TO BIKE SHOP, TOILETRIES, PURCHASE OF NO SLEEVE FULL ZIP TRI POCKET TECHNICAL FABRIC HI VIZ QUICK DRYING EASY WASH PERFORMANCE CYCLING BASE WICKING LAYER, AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST TOPPI.NG UP THE DORKULATOR FOR ANOTHER MONTHS BLOGGING.
Also we have been having problems with Ellen who is having difficulty adapting to the drinking of tea or indeed any other beverage out of  her new cup rather than the cereal bowl that she is more accustomed to. In fact so strong are Ellen's feelings on this clearly 'to be discouraged' method of drinking that she felt the need to defend her subversive behavior by bringing  the Queen into the argument suggesting that our monarch was also partial to slurping tea out of the saucer. Or so her Mum says. The poor child must have been brought up in a family where they put the milk in last! What are we to do with these Colonial people?