The Life's Too Short Tour

Starting May 20, 2009, I rode a bicycle from New York to Los Angeles, as a memorial to my late cousin, pedaling 3,600 miles in 105 days. I kept this journal along the way:

(Since completing the trek I've been working on a book about the journey to be published in 2011. )
.........................BannerFans.com
  • Day 51,52: Quick Update through Missouri

    There is no WiFi in these Ozark Mountains, but I found a computer here at a Warm Showers host, where I stayed with three other riders last night. to give a quick update of these days.
    After sleeping in my tent in Farmington's city park, beside two brothers from New York, Devon and Brendan, in their 20s who are TransAming to Oregon, I rode out of Farmington with an English rider named Ben, he is 21, his first time in the U.S.
    We pushed hard to Ellington, Missouri, 64 miles in 94-degree heat and over some tough Ozark grades.
    We stayed at the home of Wayne and Betsy, in wonderful comfort, in Ellington. Well-rested, after breakfast we will head out on another 68-miler to Houston, Missouri where city park camping awaits.
    I most likely will not find WiFi there, so stay tuned for updates farther down the Ozark road.

    until later...

4 comments:

  1. Kathy says:
    12.7.09

    To Wayne and Betsy
    You're wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing your home with Tom. Never knew before Tom's tour that there were so many people crossing the country on bikes. It's so wonderful for their families to know that there are people like you out there to watch out for them.

    Bear,

    That includes you! You're pretty special yourself. So good of you to befriend the young Korean boy.


    Tom,

    That's incredible mileage for any weather let alone 94 degree heat. Outstanding performance!

    Can't wait for the next post to see the pictures.

    Please err on the side of caution in this brutal heat, Tom.

    Love you,

    Kathy

  1. Anonymous says:
    12.7.09

    Tom,

    The classic old lyric "EVERY ROSE HAS ITS THORN"

    This anology could apply to almost everbodys life.

    The key is to remember the beauty of the rose,

    and not to be consumed by the thorn.

    GOD BLESS THE ROSES AND THE THORNS!

    UNTIL LATER,

    MIKE

  1. Anonymous says:
    12.7.09

    Tom,

    It is truly amazing! Just like Kathy, I did not realize how much bike traffic was out there, let alone, a whole network of Warm Shower places. Not to mention the churches, the firehalls, the small town police that allow camping in their city parks, people like Bear, Wayne, Betsy who go the extra mile to make you travelers comfortable because they want to. It is heartwarming.

    You are rolling along at a pretty good clip right now. I love it. Hope the weather holds out for you. Those Midwest storms can be brutal, otherwise, Kansas should be an easier state to cross. You will make quick work of it, even though it is a big state.

    Well, have a good night and, as always, take care.
    Love, Mom

  1. Stephen says:
    13.7.09

    GO GO GO!!!

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