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Well, the book didn't lie!Today was some of the 'prettiest' parts of Route 66 we have seen so far!J So amazingly picturesque.
It was like going on one of my 200 mile rides through Surrey: perfect road surface, gentle hills, gentle high-speed corners, unbelievably lush green countryside…bikers heaven JThe grass came right up to the edge of the road, and had been mown pretty much all the way along, so it looked like someone had just laid down a ribbon of road across the lawn for us to ride on. J
When we set off the morning the sky was black and it definitely looked like rain.So in order to ward away the evil rain we all donned our wet weather gear (basically a rubber suit in the summer, so we were wet on the inside anyway), and it of course didn't rain.It worked! J We took it off again about an hour later.To be fair, there was some wet mist, and boy did the wet weather really handle that well.So worth lugging it thousands of miles for that wet mist.
There were a few places that I managed to catch on camera, and I've put up a video on YouTube too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXE8vMK9cMM
The route is really well signposted in Missouri, so it was really easy to follow.We rode some of the very old sections, and a particularly famous part called Devils Elbow which winds through a national park, across an old bridge and back up the other side of the valley (that's the bit on the video).
We also stopped at an old service station on an old part of the route, the photos of which will probably be the Route 66 coffee-table book cover photoJIt was completely gutted inside, but we chatted with a guy who is doing it up bit by bit.He lives in Kansas but comes over on weekends (a few hours drive) to work on the servo.He's got some great old signs and a couple of old-time petrol pumps.Looks great so far.J
I rescued a tortoise today too!We'd stopped for a break and had just started again and I hadn't gone more than 20 meters before I spotted a tortoise in the middle of the road, all curled up in his shell, trying not to get run over (and doing a pretty good job).So I stopped, gathered him up, took a few photos, and put him off in the grass.I felt better.J
We managed to clock on 204 miles today, but it took 7 hours with an hour off for lunch in Springfield.We were on the old road for about 200 of those 204 miles, so it was slower going, but way more fun that the freeway.
And today we passed the half way mark of the whole trip!11 daysdown, 10 to go!J
So its been a great fun day for us, but not so exciting for the blog I'm afraid.We feel like we've had a great day's riding and saw a couple of cool things along the way.J
We're now in Rolla (still in Missouri, which oddly is called "The Show Me" state…show me what we haven't yet concluded, but we've got a few ideas how this could be used as a conversation opener… J).We couldn't make St Louis in a day AND do the old road, so we just made it as far as we could today, until we saw a nice town to stay in.
With these American towns, they are so oriented towards the car and they think so much about speed and convenience.Therefore, if you stay on the major-ish roads or freeway, you just don't go through the centre of town.We have had to work pretty hard to find the fun bits of town, usually only by asking locals.If we don't ask, all we find is fast food, motels and gas stations on major roads; there are no signs, and in some places, no concentration of pubs or restaurants, they will be just spread out all over.
So, as we were riding into town we saw a sign for the Rolla Visitors Centre, so we pulled in to get a map of town and find out where the 'entertainment' centre of town was, and right across the road there was a low wooden shed with truckooads of bikes and cars parked out front called The Tater Patch, and it looks like the place to be!So tonight, we will be!J
We are staying right around the corner from the info centre and the Tater Patch at the Best Western, which happily has a pool!So we've been for a swim, and rather than sit up till 130am again doing the blog after dinner, I am now sitting by the pool doing it!J
It's the 'holiday' part of the holidayJ
Tomorrow, St Louis and the Gateway Arch! JWe are now only about 400 miles from Chicago, so we're aiming to be there Monday night. If we then have Tue off and set off again Wed, that means we would have 6 ½ days to do 1,000 miles which is way less than we have been doing each day so far. So feeling pretty on-target.J
- comments
Russ Looking like a great adventure - enjoying reading the blog. It's looking like the remoteness of the West is giving way to quaint towns and even quainter residents of the mid states ! 50% down 50% to go - hope the you are all looking after each others sore buts !! Russ
Penny I'm really enjoying reading your blog each day Bro. Glad too that things haven't changed and Jas can't help but smile :). Crazy how much the countryside has changed over the trip! L P xx