Posted from Cameron, Missouri, United States.
Happy 4th of July! – I shut it down early again today because of the wind. Fortunately the wind was weak in the morning so I was able to make it into Missouri. I started the day like a good American with a McDonald’s breakfast. Then I headed out on Route 36 east. It was rainy but the lack of wind allowed me to quickly make it to the Missouri River. The flooding was bad. A number of the low lying areas near the river in Wathena and Elwood were evacuated. Starting about 2 miles from the bridge all of the exits off of 36 were closed and lots of impressive National Guard vehicles were rumbling around. Also the traffic on 36 got very heavy, leading me to believe that most of the other bridges in the area were closed. The river itself was huge. In the middle of the river were two parallel lines of very tall trees that I assume approximate the normal banks of the river. Today it was about 3 times wider than normal. On the Kansas side, the flooding was held back by a levy but the water was only 2 or 3 feet from the top. They say the river is still rising so things will probably get worse. The riding was very stressful with tons of traffic and bad shoulder condition so I didn’t get any photos. On the Missouri side of the river was the city of St. Joseph and lots of interstate on and off ramps. I bailed off of 36 as quickly as possible and roamed aimlessly for a short while until I spotted seven cyclists on souped up cyclocross bikes (tongue-twister). They showed me a short bike path out of the city and helped me get back onto 36 past the crazy parts. They kind of weirded me out though, because they called each other by strange names, like Brett-Daddy, and they talked about how they wished they had their machetes. I guess in the end I have to give them a thumbs-up because they helped me out. A little further down 36 I met an awesome couple who run The Hilltop Restaurant in Stewartsville. I walked into the restaurant not knowing it was closed for renovations. They took a break from their work and made me a free sandwich. After Stewartsville the wind broke me down so I called it a day around 2pm. Total distance so far: 2800 miles.
Before I leave I want to address all of the haters out there who don’t like McDonald’s. Maybe it’s not the best place to go on a first date, but for someone riding a bike across the Midwest in the summer it is ideal. The moment you crack the door into McDonald’s an arctic blast of air-conditioning slams into your face. Ordering is a cinch because there are very few items on the menu that are exercise compatible. In the morning i’ll get a smoothie and in the afternoon i’ll get a milkshake or McFlurry. The beverages are cooling, delicious and power-packed with calories. If you happen to be strapped for cash, no worries. Just swipe that $0.99 small smoothie on your debit card. Grab a table and let the entertainment begin because McDonald’s restaurants have free wi-fi from AT&T, who also happens to be my service provider. As a result, my phone’s internet is super fast. And when you are done, McDonald’s restrooms are consistently above average. An important feature is the handicap stall. It’s like 3 stalls in one! Combine that with a.c. and internet and you have a small-scale man cave. I have to admit, I always make a pit stop when I see those golden arches.
Photo 1 – A weird thing to see in KS. This was near the flooding in Troy.
