I would like to give a shout out to my former XC friends, particularly those from 2009. I wish that you were here. Hopefully, you are getting a flavor for this ride from my commentaries. I woke this morning and remembered our friend Charlie who passed away 52 weeks ago in Santa Fe.
We had heat, humidity, and hills today. We were dripping wet after just a few miles. The temperature was 93 at the finish, and we had 3,053 feet of climbing, most of which was in the first 44 miles. At 44 miles we descended into the fertile river valley plains of the Mississippi. Not much was growing yet. A resident told us that they had temperatures in the 30s last week so they plant later here than in the southern states we started the ride in.
Until the last few miles into town today, there was very little traffic on the roads. We had one ten mile stretch with not a single car passing us. The busiest part of the morning was the rush hour traffic of people leaving church. We passed a church where the number of cars in the parking lot seemed to outnumber the listed population on the town sign. Of course, they come into church from the surrounding towns and unincorporated areas.
As we got 10 miles from our destination today, a sign announced that a bike race was in progress. They were riding 70 miles, the same as our mileage today. They did not look any faster than us. However, they were riding into a headwind, while we had tailwinds again today. Fortunately, I might add, as the one turn we made into the headwind dropped us to 13 mph. One large group asked how far ahead the leaders were. John told them 10 minutes which seemed to take their hopes away. I thought the lead was closer to 15 minutes (7.5 minutes since we had seen them) since the lead vehicle with a group of four riders behind it had gone by. Of course, it is hard to tell who is who on the road as they are several categories of riders on the road. I felt sorry for the lone individuals fighting it out on the road.
We passed the half-way point today at roughly 870 miles. Staff was present to take our picture and the accomplishment was marked in chalk on the road. It is one day to an off day in St. Louis.
We had heat, humidity, and hills today. We were dripping wet after just a few miles. The temperature was 93 at the finish, and we had 3,053 feet of climbing, most of which was in the first 44 miles. At 44 miles we descended into the fertile river valley plains of the Mississippi. Not much was growing yet. A resident told us that they had temperatures in the 30s last week so they plant later here than in the southern states we started the ride in.
Until the last few miles into town today, there was very little traffic on the roads. We had one ten mile stretch with not a single car passing us. The busiest part of the morning was the rush hour traffic of people leaving church. We passed a church where the number of cars in the parking lot seemed to outnumber the listed population on the town sign. Of course, they come into church from the surrounding towns and unincorporated areas.
As we got 10 miles from our destination today, a sign announced that a bike race was in progress. They were riding 70 miles, the same as our mileage today. They did not look any faster than us. However, they were riding into a headwind, while we had tailwinds again today. Fortunately, I might add, as the one turn we made into the headwind dropped us to 13 mph. One large group asked how far ahead the leaders were. John told them 10 minutes which seemed to take their hopes away. I thought the lead was closer to 15 minutes (7.5 minutes since we had seen them) since the lead vehicle with a group of four riders behind it had gone by. Of course, it is hard to tell who is who on the road as they are several categories of riders on the road. I felt sorry for the lone individuals fighting it out on the road.
We passed the half-way point today at roughly 870 miles. Staff was present to take our picture and the accomplishment was marked in chalk on the road. It is one day to an off day in St. Louis.
St. Genevieve is an historic town dating to the late 1740s. The first white settlers were French Canadians who farmed the rich soil and mined salt and lead. The French influence remains today as there was a section of the old section of the city named the French Quarter.
Today's statistics: 72.6 miles; 16.0 mph into town, then slowed to 15.4 average as we dawdled about checking out old town and a place for lunch; 3053 feet of climbing.
Daily highlight: Rolling and beautiful hills of Missouri, reminding me of Chillicothe to Kirksville MO on the XC ride.
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