Destination: Across The Nation

A Family-Style Epic on the TransAmerica Bike Trail

7/13/07 - Marshfield, MO to Alley Spring, MO - 104.7mi / 6:17 / 16.5mph [1885 vert] - Total So Far: 2537.2mi

There appear to me to be about four types of drivers in the Ozark Mountains:

• drivers of American-made sedans: these drivers are always courteous and very safe; always pass in spots with good visibility - will actually even crawl along behind you on uphills until the coast is obviously clear.
• drivers of mini-vans: ditto above . . . "baby on board" and all. I would lump SUV drivers in this category as well (SUVs are basically mini-vans, anyway). Oh, except really old Suburbans get lumped in with pickups below
• drivers of pickup trucks: amount of courtesy and safety is proportional to age. A pickup truck with two twenty-somethings? . . . there's probably going to be some harassment or some sort of trouble
• drivers of utility trucks, "dualies", and logging trucks: far more likely than any of the above categories to threaten - intentially or not. Trends are identical to above (again, based on age), but the horror-factor is much much higher, especially when the move is "passing as closely as possible" or "passing on a blind uphill curve"

Entering into the Ozark Mountains of Missouri - beautiful country & excellent riding . . . Cro-Magnan drivers.

Met a couple of folks on the ride today. I caught up with Herb, an East-bounder from Washington DC, on one of the bigger uphills today. Turns out he went to high school at Annandale High School - not too far from where I did in Fairfax County, VA, and went to William & Mary. Herb had unfortunately taken a day off in Marshfield the day before because of the threat of severe storms (which never materialized). I told him he'd missed a good riding day as the temps had remained very comfortable yesterday (in the 70's and low-80's). I think this may have made Herb a little bent & he didn't have too much to say after that (although he was doing a lot of huffing and puffing, too), so I left Herb behind.

About an hour later I saw a single figure approaching from behind me - I thought it must have been a motorcycle. I realized quickly, however, that the single figure was indeed another cyclist. Another TransAm'er? If so - would be the first that has caught up with me so far. Man, that guy was really on the gas!

Matt from Indiana caught up with me outside of Summersville. He was doing an out & back from the site of a family reunion. Even if he was just out for a day ride this guy had some serious fitness going on. Matt and I shared an excellent few miles which was a real pick-up at hour six on my ride. He peeled off just prior to my reaching Alley Springs. Great to chat with you, Matt!

Alley Springs Campground has the Jack's Fork of the Current River running right through - so I went for an awesome dip. The rivers in this stretch of the Ozarks are spring-fed and crystal clear.

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