You can be in the documentary this blog is based
on! Click here to tell us your definition of health.
Day 21
Camdenton, MO to Hermann (Her-MANN according to Gary)
112 Miles
The morning is not easy -- every morning. That’s part of the deal. The first five minutes or so my head is filled with “No”, “Go back to bed”, “I hurt”, “What is wrong with you? Let me answer that for you...”(fill in the inventoried pleasantries).
The point is to make the morning as non-brain oriented as possible. I lay things out the night before so I don’t have to think in the morning. The brain will do what it does. I will continue with simple mechanical thoughts: “Bathroom”, “Uniform”, “Butt butter”, etc..
Had a great talk with a rider I met on the side of the road today -- I rolled up behind him (he was riding a three-wheeler) and we began to talk. His name is Dave and he used to ride two wheelers (a “roadie” as he put it) until he developed debilitating arthritis. That hasn’t slowed him down from doing his best, though. He talked about how much he loved Lance Armstrong and found him to be an inspiration and at the same time knew he’d never be Lance. That he was doing his best was enough.
I almost wiped out today -- the closest I’ve come. I was coming off a shoulder that was ending onto HWY 54. What I didn’t realize was that the difference between the shoulder and the HWY was a sharp ridge, rather than a smoothed bump. When I turned my wheel slightly to merge onto it, my angle wasn’t sharp enough and the wheel caught. My weight was going left and my bike was balking right. I shook for a second, righted myself, and moved to the right (on the few inches of shoulder remaining). Had I spilled, it would have been right onto the HWY... It was a good reminder of the need to pay attention.
Katy trail -- What an amazing discovery. We heard of this place earlier in the day from another rider we struck up a conversation with -- that, by the way, is one of the many cool things about cycling -- the social aspect. At any rate, he mentioned this trail and mentioned a local state politician that had recently sponsored a race on it’s 300 mile loop (it roughly follows the Lewis and Clark trail -- at least in places). It runs along the 94 - a narrow highway that was beginning to trouble us because it lacks a shoulder. Chris called me and advised we get on the Katy as there are some really nasty hills on the 94. I’m skeptical at first, but I’ve come to trust Chris -- and boy was he right. This trail was beautiful -- lined on all sides by trees (providing much needed shade). Then, it opened suddenly to our right and showed us the Missouri River. Stunning. Gary and Geoff didn’t hesitate -- they jumped in, uniforms and all. I held off as I didn’t want to get soaked and have to ride in a uni-- that might chafe me. It’s funny -- that sounds kind of wussy now as I look at it, but I know certain levels of my discomfort and know how it can affect everything I do. It was the best choice for me. I really enjoyed watching them enjoy.
Tonight we had a nice dinner at a riverside place whose name escapes me. I have been challenged on this trip to find things I can eat as a vegetarian -- especially in the midwest. One thing it has caused me to do is eat a lot more cheese than I’m used to. I love the taste of cheese -- I just know that dairy’s not in my highest good so I try not to consume too much of it.
There was another spectacular sunset -- this one overlooking a bridge and the Missouri River. I simply can’t get enough of sunrises and sunsets. From a filmmaking standpoint, the production value of them is spectacular -- tremendous wow factor for audiences and their useage is universal.
We have a very early start tomorrow and we’re running a little late tonight. I have to do my best to keep my snappy self in check at times like this. When I see selfishness at times like this it really gets me -- but I’m no angel and I’m not going to start judging others. Breathe in and out and do what needs be done.
