We didn’t know it at the time, but this was about to become a difficult period of cycling for us.  We are now on the “Bicycle Route 66”.  That’s an official designation.  It’s on the map.  It’s on the internet, It is printed in brochures.  What it isn’t, however, is factual.  Our route is mostly derived from the Adventure Cyclists Association course, and endorsed by the Missouri Dept of Transportation.  It is described online in florid tones, conjuring images of bicycling brigadoon … vehicle-free valhalla … shoulder shangrila.  What it has frequently turned out to be is “dangerous”.  Our riding thus far has been a mix of bike paths, city streets, farming roads and intermediate speed highways.  That was our expectation for today, but it isn’t how it works in Missouri, at least along the route 66 corridor.  Instead, there is Interstate 44 flanked by fronting roads on either side.  The speed limits on these fronting roads are usually a comfortable 35 mph in town, but they quickly rise to 45 mph the moment you venture beyond the last sidewalk stone, and then jumps to 55 mph before you see your first cow.  And that’s where it stays for most of the day.  It is likely some lingering trauma from Steve S’s collision, but we were all freaked out when we saw that our road was almost the speed of highways back home, made worse when we realized that there were no alternatives.  

That is a long winded way of saying that we didn’t ride today.

But what we did do was fascinating.  Bill is an alumnus of Missouri Tech, and a pledge of the fraternity Pi Kappa Sigma, both located in Rolla.  Bill asked to drop by the fraternity and was given an invitation for the whole team to drop by for dinner, and then to speak to the whole house about our ride and our goals. The frat house was huge and spotless, dinner was dutifully served by hopeful aspirants, and most listened to our talk with rapt attention.  It was our first group presentation, and it felt great.

We hope to start riding again tomorrow.