Almost there

Well, we have almost done it, later today we will be crossing the Mississippi river, a big milestone in our Trans-Am trail. After that we will only have three more states to cross (one of which we just skip across the bottom edge) a distance of about 1200 miles. The trip sure is going fast. Over the last week in particular we have covered quite a bit of distance as we hopped off route and onto the Katy trail an, old railroad which has been covered in hard-packed dirt and rock for cyclists and walkers to enjoy. On the way to the trail we met a Trans-Am couple of particular interest; they had re-started their trip in May after a five month hibernation through the winter. Why was it taking so long for them to cross a measly few thousand miles you may ask? Well because they were walking across America! They were each pushing a trailer filled with gear. Riding along with them was their small dog, he looked a little wet and cold but was enjoying himself. They amazed us to no end and were only tied by another couple we met while on the Katy trail. This set was riding Unicycles across America! They had started in May and are planning on finishing in early October. Each of them had racks with small bags containing their clothes and a backpack with food stuffs, but besides that they were staying in hotels so there was no need for camping gear. They said their maximum speed is about Ten miles an hour and that's it, going up or down hill. On the way down a mountain they can't stop pedaling, so if they go too fast they begin to wobble, as such they have to just hold their break and ease their way down at six or seven miles an hour. The Rockies are going to be a loooooooong ride. After getting off the trail and finally making it to Farmington, Missouri we were greeted by the legendary Al's place. A hostel for bicyclists that is supported by the city and filled with things to fill our needs. Like a wash machine, showers, fridge, bunkbeds galore and ,of course, a toaster. After sleeping in we are all ready to start the next part of our journey.

Al's place is actually an old jail house

bicycle storage

basically an apartment all for us

AAAAAWESOME

a railroad tunnel from the MKT or Katy railroad

scenery really changes fast

passing an Amish carriage, unfortunately it was a little too slow to draft them

and we didn't even feel short of breath

Fabien getting a feel for American food at the Missouri state fair

they are just cooler than us, plain and simple

one of many bridges along the trail

we may be crazy but i think that food is trying to talk to us

yup, we're crazy, there's logs howling at the sun