Day 27: St. Joseph, MO to Chillicothe, MO

There were thunderstorms off and on during the night and we woke up to grey soggy skies, but no actual rain. It was a mess as we got started because the roads were wet and so in no time the bikes were covered in road spray. Pretty soon though the sun came out, and it was like peddling in a swamp. Boy, was it humid! There are flood watches out everywhere and all the creeks and rivers are out of their banks and flooding the fields and low areas.
The highlight of the day was a little town called Maysville where the people of the town have been hosting the CrossRoads riders for many years. We all lined up behind the vans in a double line and all wearing our CrossRoads jerseys we whooped and hollered our way into the little town and there they were ....clapping and cheering for us as we rode in. We had our picture taken for the local newspaper and signed the book in the Dekalb County Historical Society Building. They had a great SAG stop for us with fresh HOMEMADE cinnamon rolls, PB and J sandwiches for our pockets, and coffee, water and lemonade. The cinnamon rolls were really great!
It really touched us that these kind people took the time to do this for us. America is a great place because of these kind of people who care about others.  Inside the little Historical Society building is an old fashioned bicycle with the big front wheel and the small back wheel...a man from this little town actually rode it around the world.
Then it was onwards and upwards, big rollers...151 of them to be exact (according to Tom, one of the staff) with 4087 feet of climbing for the day....and 87 miles. Apparently tomorrow is the same with lots of rollers and climbing and then supposedly it flattens out some as we head into Illinois.
I am feeling happy that my legs feel good and the climbing was okay even with some 12% grades.
Everyone is riding strong except Joanne who is still having injury problems with both legs.
Tomorrow we are on to Kirksville, MO.