Day 28 – July 25, 2003

What Clouds ?

Ride from Jefferson, Missouri to Des Moines, Iowa

We started this days ride by cutting through the canyon and then across the Missouri River. It is kind of interesting that you can see the capitol building from the bridge when crossing the river, but somehow I always thought of the Missouri River as being bigger. Too many stories as a kid I guess.

As we started up the road I came across another of those signs that make you think. Amish Furniture in Mexico, Missouri. Somehow that just draws all the wrong pictures for me. I can just picture a half a dozen Mexicans in Sombrero’s and Serape’s trying to barter with tourists for the furniture that the Amish just spent months making. There was also a sign about Mark Twain and one about Calamity Jane, but I just didn’t get enough info to understand what they were about.

Although we are still in the Ozark Mountains, you can see the hills fall away to the farming communities. We went through Princeton again, but I don’t think this is the place the motivated college preppie is looking to spend the best years of his life at.

It is kind of hot today and I have not see a cloud of any kind. No puffy white ones, no ugly black ones, nor swrlies, just no clouds at all. I think I liked it better yesterday.

We finally cross into Iowa one of the last two states I have never been in. It also happens to be one of only 4 states that has no helmet law and never has had. I know all the reasons why, but I still have to ask myself, “Why is it that in every state that allows an individual to choose to wear or not to wear a helmet, nearly all thinking adults choose not to?”

The roads here look a lot worse than they actually are. I was kind of surprised at how few holes and bumps there are. It is easy to ride long distances here even at only 60-70 mph. The wind is kind of strong whenever we turn west, but gone when we turn north. I hope that does not hold true tomorrow because we will be heading almost directly west.

We finally get to Des Moines. This is the place where we decide if we can make the north-west route, or just kind of head home. If we try to make the whole route, I think we may be rushed too much. If we take a more direct route, we can take it a little easier. That is likely what we will do. So if you happen to pass me out there you will know which way I choose and I’ll see you on the byways…..