Day 4: 5/30/23: Pittsburg KS to Ash Grove, MO

Pic below of Jesse and his sidekick, Splinter.  They are from Denver and are biking Bike Route 76 from Virginia to Oregon.

Below is a scenery pic from today.  I liked the red wildflowers next to the golden field.

I rode through a section of short steep hills in Missouri.  On one occasion while I was pedaling 4 miles per hour up a hill, during the hot part of the day, a car passed me with it's emergency flashers on.  When I crested the hill, I discovered the car had stopped in the lane of traffic about half way down the hill.  The emergency flashers were still on, and a lady got out of the car as I approached it.

I thought, "On no, is she mad because I slowed her down - or what?" She actually got out of the car and asked me if I needed some cold water.  I must have looked in pretty bad shape for her to stop, but I was actually feeling pretty good.  I said sure, and she handed me a 1 liter bottle of water.  This wasn't just regular water, it was Hawaiian Volcanic water.  I drank the entire amount over the next few hills and it boosted me over those.

Because she gave me water, I forgive her for committing the ultimate cycling sin - stopping me halfway downhill.  I didn't get to fully enjoy the fruits of my hard labor getting up the hill :)

I'm staying at the cyclists hostel in Ash Grove tonight.  I've stayed here twice before and have always had the house to myself.  Tonight, Brett (pic below), from Maine will be joining me.  He is an experienced cyclist, but this is his first bicycle tour and he is going across the country on Bike Route 76.

Total miles today: 72.5