Marionville White Squirrel

James Doggett, Wayne Hanno, Dan Pfaff and I rode the Hound Dog 124K to Aurora on Saturday. It was the best weather we have had for a ride this year. It started out a little chilly, but with clear skies it warmed up quickly. There was not much wind outbound, but it pickup out of the West-NW on the way back so we got a little push. The highlight of the trip was the white squirrel we saw in Marionville. Wayne almost ran over it when it raced across the street into the woods. We have ridden through Marionville so many times I was beginning to think the white squirrels were just a myth. Unfortunately, it happened so fast I did not get a picture.

The Southwest Missouri 300K brevet is April 16. There is information on the Southwest Missouri Randonneuring web site. Hope to see you there.

 Wayne & Dan East of Marionville

Marshfield Mash 112K Permanent

I rode this permanent today with Wayne Hanno and Cliff Jacobs. The day started out a little cool, but it warmed up nicely. We had a tailwind most of the way back and saw a number of other riders taking advantage of the warm weather. Next Sunday, March 20, is the 200K brevet in Springfield. More info on my web site.

Trains outside Rogersville

 Wayne, Cliff and Ralph in Marshfield

Bolton's 115K Permanent

On Saturday, Wayne Hanno, Brian Hawkins, Dave Nelson and I were the first to ride the Bolton's 115K permanent. The route heads northeast out of Springfield to Fair Grove and then directly west on Highways CC and BB to Bolton's General Store, which is located about 6 miles east of Walnut Grove. The route between Fair Grove and Bolton's is on the TransAmerica Bicycle Trail. We had a South to SE wind that gave us a good push to Fair Grove. Highways CC and BB were continuous hills and dogs. Even with the slight head wind, we returned in about the same time as outbound.

All photos by Dave Nelson.

Racing past Fellows Lake

 Sometimes it pays to check the map














Downtown Fair Grove
Odd Fellows Cafe is good for breakfast or a beer














At Bolton's looking like desperadoes waiting 
for a train (Ralph, Wayne, Dave & Brian)













Recharging back at the Fast & Friendly in Springfield

The Rigors of Winter Randonneuring

Dan Pfaff and I rode Route 66 & Cooky's Pie 205K on Saturday. The sun was just coming up when I left the house. It was still a cold 18 degrees. We left Autotronics at 7:00 hoping that the roads would be clear of ice and snow.

The roads were clear until we reached Paris Springs on Old Route 66. We ended up walking at least a half mile between Paris Springs and where we crossed MO 96 west of Spencer. We also ran into a few spots between M Highway and Miller. We were about an hour behind when we reached the control in Miller. We made good time to Golden City because we had a south to SW wind to push us along.

We were hoping the wind would stay out of the SW when we headed back so we would get a push on the east legs, but it moved back to the south and picked up to 13-15 mph. There is a pit bull east of Miller that was running loose. Last time he was loose, he barked at us but stayed in his yard. This time he was in the middle of the road as we approached. We dismounted and kept our bikes between him and us. I sprayed him in the face with Halt!, but it just seem to make him madder. When we were past his property, he lost interest.

Fortunately, the snow and ice we encountered out bound was pretty much gone on the way back. We got back in the dark just before 19:00. Slower than usual, but a successful ride. This gives both Dan and I eight months towards the RUSA R-12 award.

Heading out














Paris Springs














Ducks














Frozen creek














Historic Route 66 at Spencer














Golden City














Cooky's














Flatlands














Llamas enjoying the warming weather













Only 20 more miles

Willy B's

On Saturday, Doug, Rae, Tom, Steve and I took advantage of the beautiful weather and rode to Ash Grove. As we passed north of the airport, several deer crossed the road in front of us. One of the deer decided jumping over the fence onto the road was not a good idea and crawled under the fence instead. We ate a late breakfast at Willy B's in Ash Grove. In Willard, we jumped on the Frisco Highline Trail and rode it back to Springfield. The trail is now paved from Springfield to just north of Willard.

Deer crossing














Willy B's














Frisco Highline Trail

OK is OK 300K Brevet

I drove down to San Antonio and Round Rock to visit family last week and stopped on the way back in Greenville, TX, to ride with the Lone Star Randonneurs on Saturday. There were about 30 riders for the 200K and 300K ACP brevets. I rode out of Greenville at 7:00 with a fairly fast group. There was a group ahead of us and at least one group behind soon after we left town. The routes for both brevets were the same until Control #3 in Achille, OK (67 miles), where the 200K riders began the trip back south. The route to Achille crossed the Red River on an old railroad bridge that had been converted to a single-lane motor vehicle roadway. At some point in the past, a motor vehicle roadway had been cantilevered from the side of the railroad bridge but it was no longer in use. The cantilevered bridge did not look like it could support much more than a Model T even when it was first built.

We were in Caddo, OK (Control #4, 91.5 miles) at about 13:30. I had visions of getting back to Greenville by 21:00, but it wasn't going to happen. We picked up a head wind as we headed south, and our speed dropped several mph. I also began to run out of steam after we left Control #5 in Bennington, OK (112 miles). The group I was riding with pulled ahead of me, but I passed them a few miles later when one of the riders had a flat. They passed me again about eight miles further down the road, and I did not expect to see them again. I was also passed by some guys in a pickup truck, pulling a horse trailer, who offered me a beer as they passed. I said it looked good, but maybe later. I caught up with the group again at Control #6 in Bonham, TX (151 miles), just after sunset. One of the riders was sick and had decided to abandon.

We left the control at Bonham with the intent of riding the rest of the way together. About a mile down the road, another rider had a flat that required replacing the tire. The first tube would not inflate and had to be replaced. Two of the riders decided to head on because it was taking too much time to make the repair. After we got going again, three riders pulled away and we (me and two other riders) never saw them again. We stopped at a convenience store in Wolfe Creek (172 miles) for coffee, and I ate a pizza. It was the first store where we stopped that had pizza, which is a regular staple for me on brevets. I was getting tired of subsisting just on energy bars and chocolate milk.

After dark, the head wind died down and we made pretty good time on the predominately flat section. It was a chore to climb the few hills we encountered. We also slowed for the final four miles through Greenville because we did not want to miss our turns. We got into Control #7 (192 miles) just after 23:00. I appreciated that Charlie Fenske from Arlington, TX, and the other rider, who's name I have forgotten, finished the ride with me. In retrospect, even though I finished, I should have ridden the 200K because a stomach ailment I had on Monday and Tuesday and the 1,100 miles of driving the following three days probably contributed to my running out of steam after the first 100 miles.

North from Greenville, TX














Freshly tilled fields














Entering Ector, TX














Waiting for traffic on the Red River bridge














Crossing the Red River into Oklahoma














Durant, TX














Control in Caddo, TX














Crossing the Red River at sunset














Welcome to Texas














Texas antique truck

Twice Riding the Hound Dog

The Hound Dog 124K to Aurora has quickly become one of our most popular routes. I rode it last Sunday, Jan. 2, with Dan Pfaff and yesterday with Tamara Mitchell. The Sunday ride was chilly, but nothing like yesterday, it was 22 degrees at the 7:30 start and 25 degrees when I got home a little after 14:00. Fortunately, the sun was out the entire time. There is not intermediate control between Springfield and Aurora, but we stopped at the Casey's in Billings for hot chocolate and to warm up. In Aurora, a local church group was at the Casey's filling gas tanks and buying coffee and hot chocolate. So we got free hot chocolate. Unfortunately, it looks like there may be a lot of cold rides this winter.

Dan in Aurora














Dan heading back