Pacific, Missouri to Stanton, Missouri

Was on the road by 6:30 AM. After the short day yesterday, I felt like I had my legs under me today. The weather forecast was for winds to increase from the south by early afternoon, and temperatures to get into the upper 80’s. So the more miles I could get under my belt in the early morning before things got hot and windy, the better.

I only wanted to get to the Meramec Campground just off Interstate 44 in Stanton, 30 miles away. The route was mostly on I-44 frontage road, so I expected traffic not to be too heavy. (It wasn’t.) But the vertical profile on the map showed I’d be riding through rolling hills, which is a kinder and gentler way of saying I’d be doing a lot of ups and downs today. (I did.) I think these roller coaster rides through rolling hills are the worse. It’s just one continuous hill after another. Hard climbs that seem like hours, and short descents that seem like seconds. But I did almost 30 miles without too much distress, so I must be finding my rhythm. I hope so, there’s a lot more of these rolling hills in the days ahead.

It’s interesting that this year every town or city along Route 66, large or small, seems to be making an effort to celebrate the roads 100^th anniversary. And I get it. Route 66 is fabled. But as I roll past long-since closed down cafes, motels, and gas stations, I wonder what the people who owned those establishments would think. I mean, all but a very few of the road houses and old establishments along Route 66 died, put out of business by the Interstates. Nothing remains but the signs and some boarded up buildings. Riding old Route 66 is as much about seeing dead dreams as it is about nostalgia for days long gone. Anyway, just a thought. Maybe I’ll have a better idea of what Route 66 represents by the time I finish this ride. I’m sure it’ll mean something quite different to those how live along it than it does to those who don’t.

It’s suppose to rain and thunderstorm starting tomorrow afternoon and for the next few days after. I haven’t decided yet on what my plan is. I may stay put until the weather turn favorable, or I might try to ride for a motel somewhere up the road and sit things out there. Anyway, a wise man once told me, “No decision before it’s time.” And the time to decide will be after I check the weather radar tomorrow morning.

Here’s a couple photos of some interesting sights from today’s ride.