Tulsa, OK to Lexington, KY (by bicycle)

[James MacMillan]

and my supply of ibuprofen is sufficient, I'll have this trip in the bag.

While on active duty, me used to call ibuprofen "Vitamin M" for Motrin. We used to pop them almost to the abuse level.

No ill effects yet!

[Tattoo Bradley]

While on active duty, me used to call ibuprofen "Vitamin M" for Motrin. We used to pop them almost to the abuse level.

No ill effects yet!

Indeed!

[James MacMillan]

Indeed!

Well, unless you count this wierd addiction I have to being comfortable!

[way2fractious]

Day 5 - 91 miles from Springfield, MO TO Houston, MO. The bike worked flawlessly for the first time this trip. Those guys at Springfield Cycles knew what they were doing. Turns out a guy I met yesterday at Tour de MO stayed at the same motel, so we had breakfast together before he went out for his morning ride. He and his wife are being Tour de MO groupies this week as the Tour moves around Missouri. Loved the cheeseburger and milkshake dinner at Hardee's before setting up camp in the Houston city park for the night.

Day 6 - 69 miles to Ellington, MO. Another perfect day for the bike; less perfect for my knee. Great bacon & egg muffin and blueberry muffin for breakfast at Hardee's. And the bacon cheeseburger dinner at Hall's in Ellington was alone worth the ride. It seems EVERYONE uses the city park on Friday night in Ellington. The walkers kept circling the quarter-mile path until dark, then more walkers showed up at 10:30 and turned on the big lights for their walk. It also seems that every kid with any kind of truck had to throw a little gravel on the park drive until midnight. After that a large, well-fed raccoon decided to sort through the garbage cans. I did manage to get some sleep in Ellington.

Day 7 - 34 miles to Ironton, MO. Notice the short mileage. Plans started to get real flexible after the rear derailleur cable snapped just past Centerville. (On previous trips I always carried spare cables, but didn't this trip.) Cannibalized front shifter cable to obtain a small range of the lowest gears. Called ahead to the bike shop in Farmington; it closed/moved; I was referred to a cyclist in Ironton. I left a message. Without my requesting it, within a half-hour he drives out to pick me up. We find suitable cables in town. At his house, I replace cables, eat a chili dinner, camp out in his front yard, and discover that he has a gorgeous, old pipers kilt outfit a neighbor gave him. (That last happened after I donned my MARPAT off-bike kilt. Pics will follow later.)

Day 8 - 66 miles to Cape Girardeau, MO. Bike worked flawlessly again. Finally out of the hilly Ozark Mountains and on the Mississippi River, where the terrain flattens out. I see lotsof dead animals on the roads, but today I had to stop a photograph a live kangaroo in some front yard enclosure. Also saw a sign for EXMARKS MOWERS... hmmm...

Day 9 - 69 miles to Paducah, KY via Cairo, IL. Flatter terrain and frequent stops helped the left knee considerably, especially after the Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's. I am now way off my original route. From here I will be riding up the old highway, Route 62, as it roughly parallels I-24 from Paducah to Lexington. Still on plan for a Friday evening arrival in Lexington.

TTYL, Richard

(Sorry I wasn't able to notify anyone in Paducah earlier about the route change.)

[arrogcow]

So when and where are we going to get together in Lexington?

Adam