Ride Report: 63 Miles, 3,001 Total Miles (How about THAT!), 15.2 Avg. mph, 3,586 Ft. Climbing, 5,185 Calories. Clearly the noteworthy aspect of this ride was surpassing the 3k mileage total. In all honesty, I had forgotten how close we were and would have stopped for a pic of the grand occasion had I remembered. Hint, it would have looked just like me in all the other pics today, but would have been in the town of Farmington.
Speaking of which, Farmington - that is, this is the biggest city we've been to in a good while. Population is north of 16k. We've been in the sticks of Missouri for so long, people here prolly think The Beverly Hillbillies are coming to visit when they see The Rig go past. I wonder if they think I'm Jed or Jethro? But I digress - on with the day...
An early shot somewhere outside Ellington. The day was generally amenable to bike riding - unlike the past several. Humidity dropped throughout the day to a respectable 53%, temps didn't get above about 88, sunny with a moderate wind, and said wind usually obstructed by the abundance of trees here in Missouri. Delta and I voted - the vote was unanimous that it was a good day.
Unfortunately, despite the generally agreeable day, there wasn't much in the way of interesting stuff along the way. So most of my pics are from later in the ride. This is but one example. I've no idea why this area is called "Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park." Well - the Johnson part I get. The guy willed over 2k acres of prime scenic river to the State. But "Shut-Ins"? I'm clueless. Readers? But it was a very pretty area - and well maintained.
They had this 3d topographic map of the Ozarks as well. Not quite as elaborate as the 3d maps in National Parks, but hey - we're in Missouri. Note that the Missouri Park Service has strategically placed their recycling center so as to have it show up in all the pics taken by tourists. This, no doubt, to demonstrate their commitment to saving the planet.
This is Susan in front of the "Interpretive Center" in the park. The reader should note how casually she affects the hip-shot Elle MacPherson pose. We didn't go in, but instead perused the display out front, which tracked the geologic development of the Ozarks.
Me and Elle Macpherson with the Interpretive Center in the background.
Me - confirming for the reader that the skies were cloudless today. Just so ya know. I think this pic is just amazing. Ya just don't see skies like this every day...
I found this on highway "N". Can somebody explain to me the vagaries of Missouri's highway naming system? Seriously. On today's route we saw N, NN, M, MM, W, the alphabet soup was endless. Anyway - on highway N this guy was selling firewood. The point here is that on several occasions today I smelled freshly split oak as I rode past. It brought back memories since I spent many years splitting and selling firewood for spare cash. I was young and dumb. Now I'm old and my back hurts.
Apparently there was a big Civil War fight here. Who knows - they may have re-enactments annually with the victor taking home a golden cannonball or something for annual bragging rights. Anybody know who won?
Note the pond with aquatic plants in the background. Unusual since we were riding on a plateau some 400-500 feet above the valley floor below. Ya just sorta expect all the water to flow downhill from up here. Apparently not.
Me, pointing at Susan as The Rig pulls out from the last rest stop of the day. She's a bit camera shy and maneuvered The Rig to use the rear view mirror to obstruct the camera's view of her. Those Teamsters can do some pretty amazing things with the big rigs. I heard rumor at a local truck stop the other day that she's applied for the Teamster's parade unit. They drive RVs like Shriners drive those little motor scooters - without the funny hats. She's prolly waiting to find out if she makes it before letting me know.
Evidence that Farmington = civilization.
Me and Elle Macpherson ready to go to dinner tonight. She's a little shorter than you thought, right? The reader should note the heavenly rays emanating from the Steak House and Grill.
This is what they serve for dinner in Heaven. I tried to hide the blood with the extra wide knife.
And today's sign that kindness still abounds...
I was stopped at a road construction site today about 5 vehicles back from the lead car. We were waiting our turn to follow the pace car. The second vehicle back was a large tandem axle dump truck. Just before the pilot car arrived, the driver of the dump truck gets out and goes to the shoulder of the road with a lunch sized cooler from which he pulled an ice cold bottle of water. He shouts, "HEY!" - and holds the bottle out toward me, points at me, and then sits the water right beside the pavement. I waved and thanked him, then picked the bottle up as I rode past. Little stuff like that, the kindness of strangers, it sorta restores ones faith in mankind.
According to Wikipedia (take that as you may) regarding Johnson's Shut-ins State Park - "The term "shut-in" refers to a place where the river's breadth is limited by hard rock that is resistant to erosion. In these shut-ins, the river cascades over and around smooth-worn igneous rock, creating a natural water parkthat is used by park visitors when water levels are not dangerously high.[5]
ReplyDeleteChuck Putnam
Interesting. I’d seen the tern used one other time somewhere while riding, but had no idea. Makes sense. Lotsa raft tour stuff and kayakers around.
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