Day 20

Up early but I have to say it’s getting harder to get these students up and on the move – they are like zombies when they wake up, and seeing them trudge to the washroom is funny! Tent packed up and on the road and it a relay day today 15 miles on 30 off. We start from the middle of Girald and Andriy and Felipe are up followed by Jack and BP and then Raymond and Angel. The morning is cool and slightly overcast so not too hot yet! Within 20m miles we are into Missouri, our 6th State and we are psyched. It’s getting hotter and the day goes to 92 degrees! But we are doing well in relay and stacking up the miles, the 15 miles each pair is working really well. I love it when the route signs say East on top, 96 East is good, any other direction is never good! Through a little town called Avilla. I had to take a pic as we have two members of CitySquash who’s last name is Avila – OK so one more L in the town’s name, but close. It’s rolling hill time as ever, lots of cattle, plenty of corn and great horses. Green fields rolling hills and long straight roads, oh and it’s the old Route 66 so let’s get some kicks here. We turn into a gas station and wait for Angel and Raymond. There is an incredible Coca Cola shop with loads of old Coke memorabilia dating back years. Old bottles, ice machines, signs, just about everything that you could imagine about coke really cool! Jack bought a lamp and Andriy bought a checker board - nice

We change our plan and decide to stay in Springfield, rather than go on the extra 35 miles to Marshfield. It’s a KOA camp site and we have not stayed in one for a few nights, plus we have visitors – Tim (CEO of CitySquash), Holly Alderman (Middle School academics), and Michael Shrubb (Righthand man to Tim). They have flown in to St Louis and driving to the camp site, and then riding three days with us. I guess that they’ll say that they did the Ride X America once they’ve done the three days!!!!

Right now watching “The Longest Yard” in the lounge of the KOA and waiting for our guests. They are in for a big surprise when they hit the road tomorrow, I’m not responsibly for sore legs, sore arms OR sore butts!!
CU tomorrow.

BP