Distance: 26.6 mi, Climbed: 1,706 ft
Completed: 1,672.3 mi, 91,219 ft
Today, I had a short ride. I choose the distance I ride each day based on the weather, how I feel, and how lodging options line up on the route. I was expecting another hot day with the heat index near 100. My options were to ride a short day to Marshfield or 65 miles to Walnut Grove. With the high heat, I went with the shorter route. I was able to arrive in Marshfield around noon and avoid the afternoon heat.
The ride today started on a mostly quiet rural highway. After about ten miles, I turned off the highway onto one of the quiet back roads that make this trip special. I was back in rolling farms and grazing lands, and I had the road mostly to myself. The hills today were not as plentiful or steep. I suspect I am through the worst of the hills but still, plenty of climbing to keep my legs busy.
The peace of riding down a small country road was briefly interrupted when I was passed by a house. I should have realized what was coming when I was passed by the lead vehicle warning of an oversized load. The house pulled over a couple of hundred feet in front of me by an intersection. Why did it pull over like that? Is that where the house was going? About thirty seconds later I got my answer. Another house came down the road the other way. The first house had pulled over to make room for the second house. I am amazed by the amount of coordination that must have taken place to make it happen.
I stopped to pick up some supplies at a Dollar General. An elderly woman in a wheelchair comes out and starts asking me about my ride and trying to offer any help she could. She told me about a bike store that was not on my map a few blocks away. I actually could use some supplies, so I headed off to the bike store. But before I could leave the parking lot, another lady stopped me and asked me if I could use some trail mix. She had a variety of flavors in her hand, and I picked one to use as a snack for the rest of the ride. A random act of kindness. People are so nice.
I followed the directions to the bike store. The only store I could find was a motorcycle shop in roughly the spot she had directed me. I went inside and asked if the owner could help. Turns out I was at the right spot, but in the wrong moment in time. The owner had previously run a bicycle store in the same location. He tried to make it work, but it was not profitable. He switched to selling motorcycles a few years ago. Apparently, he could not compete with the Walmart in town. Sigh…
My first stop when arriving in Marshfield was the Webster County Circuit Court. No, I am not in trouble. In front of the court house they have scale model of the Hubble Telescope. Edwin Hubble grew up in Marshfield. While nowadays, most people know Hubble for the Hubble Telescope, the telescope was named for Hubble because of his ground-breaking work that helped us understand that there are other galaxies in the Universe and that the Universe is expanding. As an astronomy buff, I was excited to see the telescope.
My next stop was lunch. I picked an eatery by the court house. While I was locking up my bike, Kelly and Jay walked by and started asking about my ride. They live near the TransAmerica Trail and hosted cyclists for many years in their home through warmshowers.org. They invited me to join them for lunch.
We had been sitting down for five minutes when it finally happened. I had been expecting this moment for weeks, but somehow it has eluded me. Bryan pulled up on his loaded touring bike and set it down right next to mine. Another 76’er! Bryan joined us for lunch. It was great to share stories, talk gear, and discuss lodging experiences with both seasoned hosts and a current rider. Bryan and I sat and talked for about hour after Kelly and Jay left.
Bryan is from El Paso, Texas. He is a journeyman X-ray technician that goes from job to job. He usually commutes by bicycle and is also riding cross country east-to-west. He is mostly camping but with a periodic hotel for a good shower and a warm bed. I am carrying about 35lb of gear. He has been carrying about 50lb of gear, and apparently he has sent about 20lb back already. He must have very strong legs!
I found his approach to lodging interesting. He rides about 65 miles every day. When he gets tired, he looks for a house, church, or park where he can pitch a tent. He usually ends up walking up to the nearest home owner and asking if he can pitch a tent on their front lawn. They usually say yes. His approach is much more efficient. Here I am riding less than thirty miles today to make lodging work. With Bryan’s approach, I would be in Colorado by now.
