Day 13: 5/7/21: Girard, KS to Ash Grove, MO

 I met my first bicycle tourist on USBR 76 this morning between Girard and Pittsburg, KS.  His name is Bruce (pic below), and he is biking the entire route from Yorktown, VA to Astoria, Oregon. He told me he is from Virginia Beach, VA, so I asked him if he knew Paul Gordy, whom I had toured with before.  He said he did, then he asked my name.  Turns out, we had ridden together with Paul on a tour of the Blue Ridge Parkway several years ago.  

On that trip, there were about 4 of us, including Bruce and me, that went into a laundromat in Boone, NC, to do our laundry.  There was no bathroom in the laundromat, but that didn't stop us all from washing the clothes we were wearing.  So for a few seconds, the view in that laundromat was rated adults only.  There was also a sink in the laundromat with hot water, so we took turns having a warm sink bath.  The campground on the parkway only had cold water, so the warm sink bath was luxury.  As far as we know, there are no surveillance videos floating around depicting naked older men in a laundromat.

Went through Pittsburg, KS.  The city's mascot is a gorilla, and there are statues like the ones below around town.

Breakfast at the Farm House Cafe Restaurant.

Some pics from around Pittsburg.

Somewhere in Pittsburg, I missed my USBR 76 turn and got off route.  I pulled out Google Maps on my phone and plotted an alternative route to Ash Grove.  I believe I was about 5 miles south of the official route, and it ended up turning south and joining my route after about 20 or so miles.  The route I took ended up being a great route.  It didn't go through any towns, but that meant traffic was light.

Goodbye...

Hello....

Some scenery pics in Missouri.  The hills kept getting a little steeper and longer as the day went by.

The creek below must be prone to serious flooding.  The water depth gauge was near it, and there were several signs indicating the road was impassable if flooded.

I went through Jasper (pics below).  Once again, I love the Tin Man Hat water towers.

I then went through Everton, but no pics of that town because my mind was studying where I should stay tonight.  The contenders were Ash Grove and Walnut Grove, about 8 miles apart.  

Bruce told me this morning about a house in Ash Grove that the city allows cyclists to stay in on a donation basis, but you have to pick the house key up from City Hall.  I made it into town about 4:40 p.m., and City Hall closed at 4:30 p.m.  Out of luck, right?  Well, in most cities I would say yes.  Jennifer, who works in City Hall, saw me outside about to leave and she came out and asked if I was wanting to stay in the house.  She processed me in and gave me the house key. She then took the time to tell me about the area and good places to eat.  Ash Grove is definitely a great place to stop if biking on USBR 76.  Pics around town below.

Pic of "my house" tonight, a/k/a, The Historic Barham House.

Tonight is the first night on this trip that my supper has not consisted of an avocado with a side of bread and peanut butter/jelly or tomato/mayonnaise.  Since I have a full working kitchen, I cooked up the meal below.  It was rather delicious.

Total miles today: 94.1