The Wingnuts Wanderings

I arrived in Farmington MO. on Saturday July 27th with a broken bike and an unexpected break from my tour. I could not have picked a better place to break down if I tried. Farmington MO was named top 100 small towns to live  in 2016. There is a fantastic old downtown with much original architecture remaining. There is a historic district with many old homes and government  buildings. I have taken up temporary residency in one of those historic buildings. I am at Al's Place a hostel for cyclist located on the second floor of the old town jail. The hostel is dedicated to a late local cyclist, business owner and valued member of  community, Al Dziewa. Al would welcome any travelling cyclist into his home and in his memory the town created this safe space. What a space it is. Exposed beams, broken plaster and brick walls,, bicycle memorabilia, bunk bed dormitory bed rooms, leather sofas, air conditioning and more. Someone could become very comfortable here. I have. Hopefu...

I awoke on Saturday July 27th in a strange town in the middle of the Ozark Mountains with a broken bike, spotty cell service not knowing a soul and without an idea as to how I was going to continue. A sign at the Route 76 Hostel stated that Opy's a small store in town used free internet access for cyclist. Well I was now  walker... I walked into Opy's said hi and introduced myself. The owner, Alyssa Hope Smith was exceptional friendly and nice. I explaining my situation to her and saying how I would like to get to Farmington because there is a bike shop there. She asked if I minded if minded if she took my picture to post on Facebook. Within 15 minutes of her initial post someone responded to say they would be going from Ellington later in the day torwards Farmington if I wanted to wait. Later in the day I was contacted by Craig Foster, he was at his families farm in Ellington and was going torwards Farmington later in the day if I wanted a ride. I have a hard time believing th...

Friday July 25. I knew todays ride was going to be hard rightfrom the start. The ride profile looked like the ekg of some poor soul whose heart was ready to explode and if I added correctly about 72 miles. In Missouri up to now  the roads could be described as large rolling hills. Climbs up to about a 6% grade and 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile long, hard but ridable. The area is called the Ozark Plateau.  Today I was entering the Ozark Mountains. What a nice day to ride. Started in the low 60's, rising to the high 80's, not as hot as predicted. High thin clouds helped block the sun's harshest  Ray's. The climbs steepened, lengthened and roads became narrower. Most of today's roads included a shoulder 6 inches wide and a rumble stripped white line. This forced me to ride in the travel lane. The steep rolling hills create hazardous riding conditions. Site lines are reduced to nothing. There are times when you will rise to the crest of the road and not know what is on the o...

First a few stats 2580 miles ridden, 49 days riding,10 off days (five with Kathy off route) Camped 35 nights,  hostel/ church 11nights, hotels 13 nights(five with Kathy off route) This last stretch of eleven days riding with out a break is the longest I have had since the trip began. My legs feel it. Tomorrow is a rest day in Sterling KS. 678 miles covered in those 11 days. I have traveled from the open rangeland of northern Colorado through the Rocky Mountains of Colorado,  across the eastern plains of Colorado and onto Kansas and its wheat fields, oil ridges, cows and wind. I started this stretch in Walden CO.heading pretty much due south through Kremmling , Silverthorne Frisco and Breckenridge. The scenery continues to impress, and surprise wildlife adds to it. The next day it was off to tackle the highest climb on the TransAmerican Trail, Hoosier Pass at 11,542'. I have feared, no fear is to strong, worried about this climb the entire trip. The day started ...