Day I have no idea...30? Joplin, MO

Today was everything I imagined Bike and Build to be.

After a hard week of 90-plus mile rides, today's 80 miler was a welcome break. The Missouri weather, fickle every day preceding, held out for us today: sunny and in the mid 80's. We rode gentle rolling hills following the old US 66; perhaps it was the historic presence of the old road, but today was the first day I really felt like I was riding toward California.

We stopped mid morning at a local tractor show, where barrel rolling races were in progress. The local farmers had come out in full force to race each other by pushing barrels across a field with their tractors. They were good-humored enough to let two of our riders compete with their bikes, and Caroline and Christina even beat one tractor's time with their 41 second run!

For lunch we were offered shade and seating at a local nursery--for plants :)--and had the privilege of visiting with the founder and former owner Harold, and his wife, both in their 80's just really wonderful, peaceful people. It was such a pleasant visit, it reminded me of chatting with my great-grandmothers and great uncles.

The afternoon ride, which is normally harder than the morning, continued in the same vein: good weather, low traffic, a stop at a yard sale where two riders picked up huge stuffed animals and hauled them the last 10 miles on their backs...it all ended at a slip-n-slide at St. Paul's United Methodist Church in Joplin.

Thank you for your constant prayers and please keep them up--we are fortunate to have made it almost halfway across the US with no serious injuries in a group of 32! Internet access is less readily available but I've tried to set up blogging from my phone so maybe you will hear from me more :)

Thanks for following!