Tarkio, Missouri

Once again we had big ambitions but weak resolve. The day long headwinds, overcast skies, cool weather, and hills at the end kept us to a 40 mile day.

Leaving Big Lake we were again immersed in rural America. Farm lands stretched as far as we could see. HP noted that the size of the farm equipment did not seem large enough for all the land that needed work. HP also noted that few habitable homes could be seen, but many abandoned ones doted the landscape.

We continue to be surprised by how nice folks are. As we entered Rock Port we were struggling with the fact that the town’s only restaurant was closed on Sundays (today). However, we did find a grocery store which we thought would provide us fruit, snacks, and drinks for the next 10 miles to Tarkio. Rather than locking up our bikes we left Joe go in first thinking it would just take him a few minutes. We waited and waited but no Joe. We soon found out the he, and then we, were the center of attraction and the crowd was growing by the minute. The 2 store employees (perhaps owners) could not do enough for us. Between helping us get food they had hundreds of questions and comments. They were not alone and other patrons were just as curious. The town doctor walked in and he was introduced as being an avid cyclist…so our story began again. Dr. Mike is a family doctor and a 3rd generation doctor in a family full of doctors. He enjoys the rural life and freedom it provides him to roam on his cycle. He and his wife have cycled in many states and in Europe. He examined our bikes like he would new patients; commenting on their differences and similarities. Our simple grocery stop took an hour, but it was an hour well spent.

Near the end of our ride, Joe announced “that he was not surprised to see wind farms just north of Rock Port. With the winds that we have been experiencing, this is the perfect place to build such facilities.”

After trying all day to telephone his mother, HP was finally successful in Tarkio. We take are calls for granted but when a difficulty arises, especially on Mothers Day, it is a real concern. HP’s mother is happy, and so is he.

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