Distance: 52.8 mi, Climbed: 2,277 ft
Completed: 1,734.3 mi, 94,572 ft
Today was an exciting day. It is my last day in the Ozark Mountains. After today, the ride flattens out all the way to Colorado. It is also my first night camping.
The first five or so miles today was on a bike trail. On my off day yesterday, a couple of big storms hit the area, and I could see the aftermath along the trail. There were large puddles on either side of the trail where water failed to drain, and the trail was littered with many small branches and twigs.
Shortly after getting off the trail, I saw a sign saying “Impassable in High Water.” Sure enough, the road ahead was flooded with an inch or two of water. It did not look that deep, and I was not sure where else to go, so I started to make my way across. About half way across, my bike computer started beeping at me – off course. I was so concerned about the water in front of me, I missed the turn that would have avoided the flooding. With slightly wet feet, I turned around and got back on the trail.
I went through the town of Ash Grove. Or should I say, I went through what was once Ash Grove. To be fair, it is still called Ash Grove. However, the town is clearly no longer what it once was. The downtown was a ghost town. Four out of every five store fronts were closed. We have seen a number of towns along our trip where most of the stores downtown were boarded up and closed. It is sad to see.
The ride to Ash Grove was fairly flat. After Ash Grove, the final hills in the Ozarks began. My bike computer listed ten climbs over the thirty miles following Ash Grove. I would celebrate as I completed each climb, one step closer to being done. I was giddy going over the last two climbs. I literally shouted out with joy. I have reached the flat lands! No more big climbs!
I can say it now. I was nervous about the Ozarks. I read before my trip that many people considered it the hardest section. I kept hearing that the Ozarks were relentless, with one hill after another with many impossibly steep sections. And to some degree, the descriptions were right. I had a few days of 100 feet/mile climbing, which is about as much climbing as I have experienced anywhere. And while they were steep, they were not impossibly steep. The hardest sections were 14% incline for 500 feet or so. That is tough, and barely doable for me, but I made it. The hills in Pittsburgh and Ohio were steeper, some hitting an impassible 20%. I really thought I would be facing many hills at 15% or greater and would have to hike-a-bike most of them. I am proud to say I only had to walk one hill through the entire Ozarks.
I pulled into Golden City for my first night camping. Many towns along the TransAmerica Trail allow cyclists to camp in a local park. Tonight, I was sleeping in the Golden City Park. I setup my tent under a pavilion right next to the baseball field. I grabbed a hot meal from the convenience store around the corner. There was a port-o-potty for me to use. They even had a shower. There was some confusion over the code for the shower, so someone from the town came out to help me. I really appreciate the town coming out on a Sunday evening. Thank you!
Park camping gets the job done, but it’s not exactly a quiet campsite in the backwoods. Next to the pavilion was another pavilion with a basketball court. Unfortunately, that pavilion had lights. A couple of kids came by and played to about 10:00pm. I was trying to go to sleep, but all I could hear was the pounding of the basketball. It sounded like the ball was being dribbled next to my ear.
Then there were the gunshots. Well, I am guessing they were gunshots. Around 10:30pm, a large bang rang out, which I can only assume was a shotgun. People were yelling. Dogs started howling. A few minutes later, a second blast, although not quite as loud. A second gun? I kept expecting to hear sirens. Nothing. Maybe a car just backfired. No way to tell, but scary nonetheless.
Once the racket quieted down, I did get a good night sleep. Without towns like Golden City, the TransAmerica would be much more difficult. Thanks again.
