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27/7/2011 Qiuncy to Hannibal,MO
54km, 3.5 hrs15.72av. Bloody hot with a developed head wind from the south, a bunch of hard work.
Waking up, a little tingle in the throat was felt, oh yeah it’s about that time, I often get the flu at home, or could it be from the air con over night. Either way the last thing to be lumbered with was a cold.
I enjoyed a sleep in, waking at 0600hrs and dozing off till 0900, luxury in most unluxurious surroundings, how ironical.
It was a great shower, heaps of flow, moving on I stopped for brunch, next door was a small unasuming shop called Dave Francis- Mississippii Outfitters. What a cool shop and Dave who was about 60 odd was just such an interesting person, such a pleasure to have met and spent time with him. I learnt so much in his company about quality outdoor gear and the outdoor way of life in this neck of the woods.
He stocked the best brands of most items, eg Filson, MSR, Opinel, Tilley among others.
On display were bear traps, original canoes, Indian snow shoes, 80 year old new sleeping bags and the iconic Filson Cruiser jacket. I bought a Filson Light weight peak hat. I was leaving the shop at least 4 times and Dave had another interesting story to tell about outdoors people of the past. I was getting RSI from shaking his hand.
From here I slotted into a marine work shop asking if I could clean my chain, all good the guy said. The 3000km wash was performed, the link even took me less than 10 minutes to break.
It was now the customary 30 degrees and repressive. Fruit was bought at a supermarket, talk about a meander from town. Then I spotted a book shop ,pulling in a guy started yakking, Mark was his name, he kindly bought me a smoothy and we sat down and yarned, woops another 45 mins just slipped by.
Finally on my way battling a southerly and the heat which is starting to get to me, the peak hat is great. I crossed the river to Hannibal, Mark Twain country to the hilt. Not paying attention or caring much about time these days, it was after 1700hrs when I arrived ,most touro attractions were closed, so I checked out the water front and saw Marks home and his girlfriends pad. His Dad was a solicitor here.
So I have now left the upper Mississippii and am now heading into what is known as Mark Twains Mississippii from here south.
I need to be in Memphis around the 9 September to catch up with a friend, between now and then, about 1000 miles needs to be left behind the back wheel. In that is 400 miles on the Katy trail which heads west from St Louis. It is a classic rail trail that heads to Clinton following the Missouri river. The surface is crushed limestone. It would be sacrilege not to traverse it while here.
A brilliant motel was found, $40/nigh, the best Way Inn at Hannibal, washing was done, hung out and dry in half an hour, just an indication of the heat still at 1800hrs.
A young girl came to my room and knocked on the door and asked for $4.00, I said I didn’t have any cash and was sorry. On thinking about this after she left I reflected on how generous people had been to me since I’ve been here, ten minutes later, checking my wallet revealed a five dollar note.
I went to her room and knocked ,her mum joined her at the door. Here I said, “I found this”, asking what she would do with it her reply was “We will buy bread and milk”. The departure of this note from my wallet in this manner rewarded me so much more than this amount of money could ever hope to reward me in a shop.
Later, unloaded I rode to Wally mart and bought some fruit, a map of Illinois, some powdered milk and treated myself to a block of Lindt dark
Hopefully I will get up at sparrows and put a few triple digit k’s on the odometer, the temp tomorrow is for 98℉, bloody hell when is it going to let up?
54km, 3.5 hrs15.72av. Bloody hot with a developed head wind from the south, a bunch of hard work.
Waking up, a little tingle in the throat was felt, oh yeah it’s about that time, I often get the flu at home, or could it be from the air con over night. Either way the last thing to be lumbered with was a cold.
I enjoyed a sleep in, waking at 0600hrs and dozing off till 0900, luxury in most unluxurious surroundings, how ironical.
It was a great shower, heaps of flow, moving on I stopped for brunch, next door was a small unasuming shop called Dave Francis- Mississippii Outfitters. What a cool shop and Dave who was about 60 odd was just such an interesting person, such a pleasure to have met and spent time with him. I learnt so much in his company about quality outdoor gear and the outdoor way of life in this neck of the woods.
He stocked the best brands of most items, eg Filson, MSR, Opinel, Tilley among others.
On display were bear traps, original canoes, Indian snow shoes, 80 year old new sleeping bags and the iconic Filson Cruiser jacket. I bought a Filson Light weight peak hat. I was leaving the shop at least 4 times and Dave had another interesting story to tell about outdoors people of the past. I was getting RSI from shaking his hand.
From here I slotted into a marine work shop asking if I could clean my chain, all good the guy said. The 3000km wash was performed, the link even took me less than 10 minutes to break.
It was now the customary 30 degrees and repressive. Fruit was bought at a supermarket, talk about a meander from town. Then I spotted a book shop ,pulling in a guy started yakking, Mark was his name, he kindly bought me a smoothy and we sat down and yarned, woops another 45 mins just slipped by.
Finally on my way battling a southerly and the heat which is starting to get to me, the peak hat is great. I crossed the river to Hannibal, Mark Twain country to the hilt. Not paying attention or caring much about time these days, it was after 1700hrs when I arrived ,most touro attractions were closed, so I checked out the water front and saw Marks home and his girlfriends pad. His Dad was a solicitor here.
So I have now left the upper Mississippii and am now heading into what is known as Mark Twains Mississippii from here south.
I need to be in Memphis around the 9 September to catch up with a friend, between now and then, about 1000 miles needs to be left behind the back wheel. In that is 400 miles on the Katy trail which heads west from St Louis. It is a classic rail trail that heads to Clinton following the Missouri river. The surface is crushed limestone. It would be sacrilege not to traverse it while here.
A brilliant motel was found, $40/nigh, the best Way Inn at Hannibal, washing was done, hung out and dry in half an hour, just an indication of the heat still at 1800hrs.
A young girl came to my room and knocked on the door and asked for $4.00, I said I didn’t have any cash and was sorry. On thinking about this after she left I reflected on how generous people had been to me since I’ve been here, ten minutes later, checking my wallet revealed a five dollar note.
I went to her room and knocked ,her mum joined her at the door. Here I said, “I found this”, asking what she would do with it her reply was “We will buy bread and milk”. The departure of this note from my wallet in this manner rewarded me so much more than this amount of money could ever hope to reward me in a shop.
Later, unloaded I rode to Wally mart and bought some fruit, a map of Illinois, some powdered milk and treated myself to a block of Lindt dark
Hopefully I will get up at sparrows and put a few triple digit k’s on the odometer, the temp tomorrow is for 98℉, bloody hell when is it going to let up?