Although JJ’s probably more than ready for me to come home, I’ll admit I wish there were a few more days like today. It’s a fairly long one (76-ish miles) and there’s a pretty good head wind going on for most of the day so far (and I expect, looking at the map, that it will continue), but it’s pretty flat and the riding is great.
Overnight in Ottumwa was good – a thousand times better than Chariton (which, so far, get’s my “worst town of the tour” award). Best town of the week is still up for grabs, all-in-all, they’ve been pretty good. Mercifully, the promised thunderstorms didn’t materialize last night (a real blessing since my stuff was already pretty wet from the Thunderstorm the night before and the fact that I had to pack it up wet.) The weather people are forcasting “scattered thundershowers” today. So far, not even the slightest cloud in sight. It’s hot, but it’s beautiful.
We picked up coffee this morning at a real coffee shop in Ottumwa – best I’ve had so far. I can’t remember the name of the shop, something about a rooster. I’ll check later if anyone cares (probably not). I ended up buying one of their T-shirts… it’s great and deals with one of my biggest coffee pet-peeves; it says: There’s no X in Espresso.
About half way to Mount Pleasant (where we’re spending the night). Shaping up to be a good day (hoping, of course, that there aren’t any more falls!)
Crazy sight of the day? I saw a guy pulling a trailer with a Sousaphone (sp?) on it. Yea… a tuba! He could play too. When I stopped in Pekin, he pulled up and started playing with their little pep band. It was quite the show.
Grae and Peace,
`tim
