Alley Springs Missouri Ozarks

Ted climbed to the top of the Forest Fire Look out Tower

Alley Springs 81 Billion Gallons a Day

Alley Springs


Ted at Jacks Fork River Bridge

Jacks Fork Put in For Paddlers

You can click on these pictures to make them bigger Hummingbirds

Golden Rule Tourist Sign Gotta Agree with Them!

Hotel Calico Kitty she was so Sweet and a Mommy too!

Eminence Missouri to Houston Missouri

Aloha Everyone,
Let's see we spent a couple of nights in Eminence Missouri hoping to do a float trip but the weather never cooperated with us to get on the river. Thats ok because I got to float in my own way. We had a good rest day, paying bills, catching up with rest. I sat and watched the rain for awhile and talked to another guy named Sam going East they are almost done. They are traveling with a sag wagon so they have someone picking out what they eat where they do their laundry and where they will sleep for the night all they do is ride 100 plus miles per day. I really enjoy our whole experience of finding food, shelter, and laundry when needed it's all part of the unknown adventure. It is really tough to totally rely on your own legs or bicycle to take you where you need to go infact tonight I am thinking about skipping dinner because I am too tired to find something to eat. I did my laundry in the bathtub. We are in a hotel tonight because the price is right. Today we left Eminence and headed 5 miles up up up to Alley Springs what a fabulous place the water is crystal clear and cold. It's an Old Grist Mill really neat area. The canoe buses and vans were passing us with tourists floating the river if it weren't for them our road would of been almost empty. Today I had to flip someone off because they were just too close for comfort. Just so you know I am not mad or anything just giving them my opinion. When we stopped for a beverage I had an old guy come and ask which way are you going I said West he said good. Why Oh my dogs are back aways I said are they black and brown yep thats them I said oh they did chase us. He says they are coyote killers I told him they were no harm and if they would of been bad they would get the pepper spray. The hummingbirds were out in force and they are so cute I watched them for a good ten minutes before moving on. After Alley Springs we had a huge hill to climb and my thoughts were focused on getting me over the Mountain. It was getting real Hot outside about 94 but feels like 101 with the humidity. I told Ted I have never had so much sweat coming from my body. Literally running out of every pore and running down my legs. We pulled up for lunch with 23 miles still to for the day, I had a sandwich and salad. The waitress brought us 2 pitchers of water so we could refill our water bottles before leaving. Leaving we werer greeted with much smaller hills I can't tell you how happy I was for this as my core temperature was runing hot and I was afraid my legs were going to give out. As another journal writer wrote These hills are demoralizing. But, coming into Houston Missouri we stopped at a coffee bar to get a cold drink, when going to pay you refused our money and said bikers get free drinks Wow, what a gift at this hour we were so thankful. I had an Iced Mocha Latte with Vanilla and Chocolate or something. MMMM Good. Ok, keep the rubber side down and I do think we are done with the Ozark Mountains.
Pictures to Follow,
Lisa

Missouri pictures and a few of Illinois

Black River Missour

This is one of those Hills that just drops off

Corn and Hills

Coal Train Loading station

looking through my rearview mirror

Hello Missouri crossing the Mighty Mississippi

Protected Water of Missouri

Self Portrait right before all Hell broke loose

My sister Maryann

Current River Missouri

Storm Damage Twin Rivers Missouri

Home sweet Home My fire

this was the view from my tent

My Home away from Home

Johnson Shut Ins Granite Art Bobcat

Mom and Dad

June 15th Missouri and stuff

Aloha Everyone,
Wow, it's been a busy couple of days. Meeting up with my Mom and Dad in Farmington Missouri and then my sister. We are in the heart of Ozark country and it is so beautiful. When Ted and I made our first stop in Missouri I made sure we went to a campground I had stayed at 30 years ago it was a little different from what I remember but the river was the same. Crisp clean and cold. After setting up my tent I went down to the river and started by removing my shoes and just soaking my feet and looking at the beautiful rocks. But, this was not good enough so I put my shoes back on because I said I won't wear my new shoes until I can get to missouri and put my old shoes in the river. So I laced up my old shoes and fully dressed jumped right in and floated down river about 100 yards and walked back and did this 3 or 4 more times. It was so refreshing. A little girl was on the bank watching me and wondering what is that woman doing. It was fantastic. I think Ted thought I was a little cooky. Then it was time to shower and get ready for our dinner of cup o noodle soup and oreo cookies for dessert. I could not resist not making a fire so I put it all together and had one match and got the fire going. I sat and tended the fire for a good 3 hours until I was sleepy and full and fell asleep to the sound of the crickets chirping. This is the Life. Got up Sunday expecting big hills but they weren't too bad just a stedy uphill. Stopped in Centerville and met with my sister, got the laundry done, talked story went to dinner and then it was time for bed already. In the middle of the night a big storm rolled in I could hear the thunder and was just so happy to be sleeping inside. We got up to stormy skies and waited out the storm warnings and decided we should contnue west. Starting out was decent no sun but no rain either. The cars around here really don't give us too much room. I cuss most of them out and if they turn around they are going to get a blast of my pepper spray. The going today was quite a bit hillier with a few steep sections, I had to walk one section cause I looked in my mirror and all I could see was a truck coming at me. Shew I tell you, Man I wish they would move over. Then the rain started and I put on my first rain coat, then the sky just opened up and poured rain, I stopped had a drink under a tree and watched the lightening and put on my big rain coat and said a little mantra and continued west. With my bliky light going and the rain falling I really started to wonder why this is so much fun. Then I came around the corner and I saw flashing lights and thought Oh no I hope Ted is ok cause he is in front of me. I approached with caution asked what happened a truck run off the road oh ok, can I pass. I passed and had 3 miles to go. I met up with Ted and he asked if I saw the truck yes, I said. He tole me the story of what happened and I said oh that's why they all gave me stink eye. Apparently those crazy buses running paddlers to and from their canoeing expeditions went our around Ted and proceeded to run another truck off the road. Wow, scary. Ted did stop and the guy was ok so he went on. So I did not know this when I went by and could not figure out why they were all looking at me real mean and of course what did I say except Nice day for a bike ride huh? I'm just glad no one was hurt. Even the Sheriff would not speak a word to me he just noded his head. So we are here in Eminence Missouri waiting out the storm and hoping to do a little paddling tomorrow if the weather is better. So my friends thaks so much for all of your well wishes I really enjoying hearing from all of you. Until next time keep the rubber side down,

Love to yall.
Lisa

Devils Kitchen Lake

Geez After 1200 Miles Thanks for the Warning!

Hilly Terrain with Ted out there somewhere

We met these Guys Lewis and Clark they are going West Too.

Illinois here we come crossing the Ohio River

Cave in Rock where the Bad Guys Hide out to Pirate the Ohio River traffic

Ferry Boat crossing to Illinois

Share the Road
Ted
Pretty Little Pond kentucky

Cute Goat
Look at the color of the pond must in Kentucky where this color?

My cockpit, new friend Fordy found him along the road in Fordsville Kentucky

Nancy Lincoln Cabins Where Abraham Lincoln was born
Our cabin Nancy Lincoln Cabins Hodgenville Kentucky

Horse Camp Illinois

Turtle he was friendly
Are these Longhorns? They were very mellow.

On to Illinois State Number 3

Aloha Everyone,
We made 1000 miles a few days back so I think we are closer to 1200 now. I can't believe it! Really there were a few days when I thought about getting off my bike and not going forward so to all of you offering me your support MAHALO it really really helps keep me strong. We stopped at a gas station a few days ago and this old guy struck up conversation with us about why all the big trucks are here and what they are doing. The trucks were leaving this day been here since February a big storm knocked over all of these huge trees, we did wonder why everyone would trim those huge branches and now we know why. He did tell us Illinois is flat flat flat. I do need to talk to him about that everywhere we stop I talk to the locals and tell them I heard Southern Illinois is flat and they wan to know who told me that. It is not flat it's hard to capture this in pictures so I will do a verbal for you. Riding along and you come over this ridge and you look down and go ok maybe I can get going fast enough to carry myself over the next one. I get going being mindful that my bob trailer is only suppose to go 25 miles an hour I stand up on my pedals and grip my bar leaning a little forward gaining speed grinning, and then nothing. Nope too steep to carry me up so now sit down drop those gears down to little ring and grind it out. One day I decided to sing 100 bottles of beer on the wall which I don't recommend doing in a dry county cause all it does is make you thirsty. One hill I got to 48 bottles of beer on the wall I don't remember ever singing that song to 48. so I decided to sing one little two little three little indians you get the feeling yet. Good now do this all day long with occassional stops to pee in the bushes covered with ticks. But, I must say I am having the time of my life out here. All of the people we have met have been so nice it's almost hard to believe. We stayed in a bed and breakfast in Utica Kentuky, Ted went in and the man said they were full and felt bad so offered for us to sleep in the living room for free. Great, then he remembered he had a little room in the back people just checked out but we could sleep in the other 2 beds in the room that weren't used and get fresh towels to bathe. Excellent and he only charged us $5.00 a piece. It was better than the Ritz. The next night we came into Eddyville this was a tough day and it was hot outside. There is a camp located 2 miles off route which makes 4 more miles to our already long day. As we are leaving the gas station I see a sign for a horse camp ask Ted if he wants to try this out and say yeah let's go. It wa so cool, People bring their horses on vacation and go to horse camp. Everyone pretty much knows everyone. The owners weren't in but another lady got us settled. She even brought me a cold beer whle I was putting up my tent. The tavern was about a mile away. Then as we were finishing up our camp another lady came over with 1,2, 3 bread and invited us to bullshit with them tonight. The bread is one can of beer, 2 cups of sugar and 3 cups of flour. Her husband made it on the grill. It was delicious so for all of you who like to experiment that's it the recipe above. Good Luck and call me when it's done. We really did not get a real dinner this night as a huge storm came in the most thunder and lightening I have seen in a long time. Luckily we were able to hide out inside this concrete building and wait out the storm finally at 11pm I could not stand it any longer I had to go to bed we ventured back to camp and had to cross a small river that appeared as a result of the rain. I felt really bad for all the horses I think they were scared they all got real quiet. The next day we were off to Carbondale where we are now and it was a good day, nice Pleasant Hills as I like to call them either that or I am finally in good enough shape to handle them without feeling like I am going to die. We are at the comfort Inn and next to the chinese restaurant. Today we are going to the bike shop to remove a couple pounds of coal dust and get adjustments made to our Iron Horses. The weather is not good. I do hope we start to see some sunnier days not thtat they are bad it's just we need to dry our tents. Does anyone know if you can wash your tent?
Until next time keep the rubber side down and a smile on your face.
Lisa

Deep in the heart of Kentucky

Aloha everyone,
I am borrowing Teds computer so I can do a little updating I am having problems with mine. We have been riding steadily Since Friday. The weather has been pretty good. The hills are pretty big too. Each climb is about 1.3 miles and our longest one to date was about 4 miles. I am so glad to have these behind us each day is getting a little flatter and we seem to be making good time. Summer is sneaking up on us and the nights are not as cold so we have been camping pretty regularly. I will post pictures when I can hopefully soon. I think we are taking a rest day on Wednesday and hoping for internet connection. We will be in Bardstown Kentucky Wednesday for our rest day. Then I am thinking about 2 more days and then we will be into Illinois and soon to be Missouri.
Ok just wanted to touch base please look at ted blogs for the latest update look in my links to see his page.
Love to You all,
Lisa