Day 27: 6th State Line Crossing, Pony Express Museum, Lewis and Clark Trail

Gil's Cliff Notes (written 5 pm Thurs; added 11:20 pm Sat)
Underway shortly after 7 AM. Fully fueled with hotcakes, eggs, cereal, bacon and sausage, Coffee too and yes, some orange juice. Sky heavily overcast with wind. But, unlike yesterday wind was at our back and not nearly as hard. Made excellent time right from the start and raced through the rolling country side at 18 to 24 miles an hour for sustained periods. Reached first SAG stop at 32 mile mark around 9 AM. Ate, drank gator and water, bought a banana at the store that was there and took off. Reached MO river and Dairy Queen at 60 mile point around 10:45 am and joined other cyclist for coke and ice cream (to keep fueled). Then across the river (a narrow old one) into MO (I can't spell it) and pictures at state sign. No fooling around. Dark clouds and thunderstorm can be seen. Raced with the wind the remaining 26 miles into St. Josephs and reached Drury Inn before 1 PM. A very nice hotel. Happy camper. After showering went immediately to nice barbecue restaurant near hotel to get some chicken and beans and salad. What a difference between yesterday and today!!

Jean's carpel tunnel surgery went fine today, but it looks like I'll be writing the blog for a few days. Hopefully she'll be able to continue adding the photos or willing to "talk me thru the process" AGAIN.

Today's 85 mile ride proved to be "easy" (Gil's description not mine).....a tail wind pushed them to a 1:00 arrival time. Everyone was glad it wasn't a repeat of yesterday's ride. At mile 52 they crossed the river into Missouri and found another Dairy Queen. After an ice cream and coke were consumed, the tour followed the river valley to St. Josephs. There was a BBQ place next door and Gil enjoyed some chicken BBQ.

Tomorrow it's on to Chillicothe where they meet up with a good riding buddy of Gil's--Dale. Dale lives in Bloomington, IL and is joining the tour for 4 days......until they reach Champaign, IL, the next REST day.

I realize this is shorter than most of the entries, but I've entered everything he mentioned to me this evening....REALLY !!!