JULY 7 LAND OF A THOUSAND HILLS

The topography chart of today's 82 mile ride looks like an EKG chart of an intensive care cardiac patient. Too many ups and downs! In this "region of 1000 hills" we actually climbed 236 of them today, accounting for 2600 feet of accumulated elevation gain. It was in every sense "a roller coaster day".

We rode on quiet 2 lane country roads that rambled through the Missouri farmland. Soybean rows and corn fields were common place. Many of the farms were owned by Amish people, as a large comminity has settled in this area. We saw a group of Amish men erecting a building as we passed by on our bikes.

After 2 flat tires (#6 and #7 for the trip) and being chased by by a big unfriendly dog, the day settled down to simply fighting the hills. (Thanks to Joe and Mason for relinquishing their lead at the time to lend a helping hand.) The hills just kept coming; racing down to gain momentum, racing up to get to the top. Some, of course, were worse than others,and we did have many great downhill runs (my maximum speed is now up to 35 mph--but slow in this league).

If I had encountered these hills prior to this trip, I would not have attempted them--certainly not for 82 miles--and I know I would not have been able to make it. Now, we all come to the realization that to get through them--you just DO them! One at a time-until you complete the day's ride. It is what the challenge is all about.

It was a happy crew in the hot tub at the Day's Inn late this afternoon, and later outside watching Vern and Brantley teach us "xylo" (a frisbee-like game).

At check in, I received mail that included a bag of yellow Lance Armstrong LIVE STRONG rubber bracelets. (Thanks, Louie.) This is a campaign to benefit the Lance Armstrong Foundation and its efforts to support young people especially who are living with cancer. You will see them on OLN network during the Tour de France being worn by the announcers and Lance supporters. They are cool. They are for a good cause--and we are all wearing them. Several bikers donated to my ACS Fund when receiving the bracelet. Thanks!

We are staying in Kirksville, population 17,000, a small town in Northern Missouri known as "The Birthplace of Osteopathic Medicine". The medical college is located in town along with 10,000 student Truman State College.

Tomorrow it's on to Illinois. We will be crossing the Mississippi River by ferry in a 97 mile marathon. We have gone 2256 miles in 32 days. Soon we will be closing in on the East Coast!

         - Bill

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