End of Missouri beginning of Kansas

First of all, Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park was awesome.

Also, the Ozark Mountains, though really I wouldn't necessarily consider them mountains, were difficult. We struggled through them for about three days, climbing hills for about a half-hour and descending wildy for three minutes to a river valley only to begin a new climb. Yet, after one long climb the river valleys levelled out at a 1000 feet and the plains opened up in front of us. The last day of the Ozarks we completed nearly ninety miles and the weary travellers entered the Golden City and the beginning of Kansas.

The thing about Kansas that most people don't mention is the wind. The elements to be concerned about have changed and now we're praying to the god of the East Wind, Eurus, to allow us passage across the plains. So Joe, John, and I are currently residing in Chanute KS waiting out the heat. We've met a few other west-bound travellers and hope to see them on the road again soon. Also, we've started to encounter more East-Bounders and hope to talk to some soon!

If you're looking for some more perspectives and some great pictures check out John Lucanera's blog here we joined up with John for his "Back on the Road Again" entry.

Farewell Siemen, for now...

Yesterday morning we left Siemen on the banks of the Mississippi in a small town called Chester. He's on his way north to St. Louis and a different trail, but we're hopeful to catch back up with him sometime in Kansas...

Thusly, Joe, John, and myself (Alan has gone to visit a brother in Chicago) department the town of Chester where the original Popeye the Sailor Man was from incidentally. Passing statues of Swee' Pee, Bluto and of course Popeye we crossed the decent sized bridge over the Mississippi and have made our way into Missouri. Currently we're resting comfortably in a biker's hostel in the foothills of the Ozarks and today should be in the midst of those mountains.

Looking forward to some climbing!

Great Dominions

Caught in a thunderstorm in a volunteer fire department at the moment, makes me think of all the fantastic people we've met so far...

Coming out of a supermarket in Berea a few long days ago we stumbled upon a 92 year old man pushing his cart to his car. He stopped and chatted with us for a bit, asked us about the country and how we were finding the trip. After a little bit we made to leave, and he left us with the parting idea of how confident he was in the strength of the US because of the kindness of the American people.

We've been through some desolate areas on this trip thus far but have managed to get through due to the extreme generosity of many. The day before last we slept in a grocery managed by a middle aged couple Arnold and Lucy who had no qualms about taking us in and cooking us a huge delicious spaghetti dinner. The Lees of Radford allowed us to camp in their backyard and let us use their car to drive around town. David of the hills of Hindmen took us in and fed us more than we could stomach, which has become quite a task. Its often that people will approach us and start talking, perhaps because its so easy to start one with our bikes as conversation pieces. I tend to think that we do want to reach out and just talk to one another, the hard part is starting the conversation...

Ted came out again last night which was a great time. Now it is myself, Joe, Alan, Siemen, John, and Jim holed up waiting out the storm. We passed into Central Time, passed the 1,000 mile limit and tomorrow should be passing out of Kentucky. The wagon moves forward.

Define Gumption

Hello all, I apologize for not updating this in awhile. Currently resting well in Berea KY after two sixty-plus days over rough terrain. The landscapes around this country have been breathtaking...literally. We're continuing on the trail now, five of us all told--myself, Joe, Alan, Siemen, and now John. Unfortunately Ryan extended his knee in the wrong sort of way but was lucky not to have sustained a more critical injury, we wish him the best.

A recent highlight has been seeing my good old friend Tedde Harden yesterday evening here in Berea. After taking Joe to the hospital for his hands, some poison oak in the wounds (he's doing really well now) everything became amazing for us one of the doctors there alerted us to a free pasta dinner with a live show and the day that had been rainy became warm and sunny.

All told, a free outdoor concert, dinner, and a ska show afterwards in this small town. Last evening we stayed in an RV campground, its interesting finding a new place to sleep each night, church grounds, campgrounds, local yards, famous residences, battlefields etc etc.

Moving out soon and will be in Illinois before next week trying to catch some people in front of us who we have become aware of due to log books at different campsites--even one fellow completing the trail on a unicycle! Also I'm growing a beard which you'll be able to see on Siemens blog. Check for pictures there!