Into the 7th state, Illinois!

Total miles: Over 2,500!
hours on bike: a billion
days on the road: 46!
miles to go: I wish I could say 5, but I think its more like 1,500.
number of donuts to keep me going: enough to fill a Krispy Cream.

Dear Mr and Mrs Farmington America,
I am writing to you today, in regards to the frequent close encounters I am having, with all the wild dogs of the Ozark hills. I think its swell that you have dogs, I love dogs, and I know you must think they protect your property and your precious cattle. However, I find it very unnecessary to leave your pit bulls/rottweilers/german shepards/and even mangy terriers, off leash and free to roam the fields. This is not only terrifying and dangerous, for both myself and your puppy, but just down right rude. Please keep your dogs either tied up in the yard, behind a fence, or pretty much anywhere that I don't have to see them, hear them, or feel them biting at my ankles. I'm pretty sure my legs are a little crucial for me to keep pedaling, so please, don't make me get out the pepper spray..because I will use it.

and PS. Please, please, take down the Confederate flags hanging in your yard. That's even scarier.
Thanks!

So...I just thought I would include a little letter to all those farmers out there, which I should actually post up somewhere. The last few days there have been more than a few close calls with farm dogs. I was chased down by a pack of five yesterday, and after biking 80 miles already, its a bit hard to sprint uphill and out of their teeth's reach. I would more than love to grab the mase that's strapped on my bike (it really is, seriously) and spray a dog in the face, but, I feel that might be taking it a little far. I would like to keep my ankles bite free though. And yes, there have been numerous Confederate flag decorum sightings lately, which usually means I am in an all out pedaling spring at this point, trying to spin myself as far away as possible.

Back to the basics, I made it through ALL of Missouri in five days! I'm now in Chester, Illinois, basically straddling the border, but who's here to be the real judge. Although Missouri definitely lived up to all the hype of steep roller coaster hills, it has been a much needed and refreshing break from the never ending desolate prairies of Kansas. I think I may have even grown a few more leg muscles in the last few days, just trying to haul ass up those steep hills. It gets tough tugging around so much weight on the back of my bike, and usually takes all the strength I can muster to get to the top, and then I just have to do it all again, and again, and again. I find myself dreaming of the days when I could just ride my bicycle around the streets of San Francisco, with nothing on it! That's when I used to complain about just carrying a backpack to school...those were the days.

I have been riding through the Ozark hills, and if I knew my US geography I would have already known those were in Missouri. Since that's not the case, it was a nice surprise to find out how beautiful this state really is. I can feel the seasons beginning to change around me as well, and the leaves are starting to change and fall all around me as I ride the hills. Its feeling great to be out of the hot summer days, but I'm also beginning to feel the anxiety of the cold weather fast approaching, which means shorter days and less time to ride.

Yesterday was one of the most mentally draining and difficult days I have had; extremely steep hills to climb, cold grey rainy drizzle, no shoulder in all of Missouri, and mean dogs. After riding over 90 miles and not arriving in town until nearly dark, on the verge of tears, and nearly panicking; I was about at the end of the rope trying to find the park to sleep in, seriously. As luck would have it, my day was saved once again, and I got to be the third cyclist ever to stay in the brand new Trans America cycling hostel, in Farmington, Missouri.

Maybe that does not sound like a big deal, but after weeks of sleeping on the ground, in the rain, and wearing yesterdays sweaty spandex; I needed a break as much as ever, and this was definitely it. I was the only one there, obviously, so I got to lounge on couches, do my laundry, have a long, hot shower, and sleep in a real bunk bed! What a treat.

Today I decided to celebrate my arrival in a new state with a short day, and to prepare myself for the ominous Appalachian mountains which I will be hitting in just a few days. Supposedly, this Mountain range is the toughest yet. I guess I was lying to myself the whole time when I thought I was done with the hard stuff after Colorado. But...I think, if I have made it this far already, there is clearly no turning around, and I'm pretty sure I can handle the challenge.

Feeling more ready than ever to hit the East soon, and taking all the kind words of strangers with me to keep me going.

PS. Could somebody remind me what life was like before the bike? Its beginning to feel like I have never, ever done anything else in life; besides riding a bicycle for nine hours every day, sleeping in parks, and eating ice cream and donuts every chance I get. I feel like there is something I'm forgetting, like my former life was really a dream... did I ever do anything else??

cheers!