Today we went up and down about 140 hills on a 75 mile ride from Chillicothe to Kirksville, Missouri. That’s a lot of hills. They weren’t just easy rollers, either: many were grades of >10%, which is pretty steep for a road bike. And it was sunny and hot. Several riders thought today was the hardest so far.
It was pretty, the roads were mostly good, and the drivers were all very courteous and careful.
Several years ago Crossroads came down this road only to find a bridge made impassable by flooding. Since there was no easy detour Tom, our van driver and Paula’s son, stopped at a house to ask to borrow a ladder. The owners generously lent him a ladder with which the riders were able to get over the bridge. Since then the family has allowed Crossroads to use their lawn as a SAG stop. The grassy lawn was a nice treat.
Tomorrow we cross the Mississippi River at Quincy, enter state #8, and pass the 2000 mile mark.
Countiss 2023 USA Tour 
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