148 hills (no joke)

Today's ride: Chillocothe, MO to Kirksville, MO: 75 miles; 4,400 feet of climb on my Garmin; 4,900 feet of climb on Linda's Garmin. My legs agree with Linda's Garmin.

The first 25 miles were some gentle climbs, some flats.  Lots of flooded fields.

There are so many vacant buildings along the way.

The door on the far left says "showers". We have a folklorist traveling with us. Her husband is one as well and shared the signs on vacant buildings are called "ghost signs". Neat name. 

The folklorist that rides with us shared she was an intern with a state's DNR and her card was misspelled to read "Fork Lorist". A women found her card and called her and asked if she was also an expert in Spoons. The woman had a spoon collection she wanted reviewed and valued. She hung up the phone, aggravated, when she learned she was a folklorist.

The remaining 50 miles had 148 hills. The hills were counted by the senior mechanic over 3 of the 21 years he has done the tour. There were some steep ones (e.g. 13%). I had to get out of the saddle all 148 times.

Linda had a stellar day. This was one of the few times I saw her.

She took off on the first hill and I didn't see her again until the SAG stop at mile 50. It was so nice, because she got so many accolades from our fellow riders on her climbing ability.  Two of my favorites are "she downright dusted us" and "she does the whole thing with a smile". Linda humbly shared that she would not know she had this hidden skill unless she went on this kind of bike ride. 

The hills made the pedaling difficult, but the landscape was beautiful. Unfortunately, the pictures don't do it justice.

Allegedly, this area is so hilly because the glaciers went down on the east and west side of it and "pushed" the land into these rolling hills. Interesting concept, no idea if it is true. 

I continue to be impressed with CrossRoads staff. There was a bridge out at mile 60, so they found a way for us to get across, and not make the trip longer. They actually borrowed a ladder from a farmer that lived by the bridge.

  The logistics manager said it was today's Red Bull Challenge, as the hills were not enough.