Once again I started the day's ride with a short jaunt to fill up with fuel--this one just 25 miles...and I thought I might be pushing it. Isn't mileage just a little bit worse when the engine's cold? There were 7 miles showing on the RTE gauge, and it took just a bit more than 5 gallons--I've put in 5.24 on other occasions this trip--aren't gas pumps supposed to be calibrated?
Then off and running on US412, leaving it at Hardy for US63 and the run north into Missouri--which reminds me, I touched five states yesterday, which may be the high for the trip: started in Alabama, crossed the northwest corner of Mississippi, then a chunk of Tennessee, and that hang-down southeast corner of Missouri, before ending up in Arkansas.
Just north of West Plains, I had a waypoint set a bit into SR14--that meant I wanted to continue on that road, even though the GPSs all wanted me to turn around and go back to 63, and I was momentarily tempted, since there were signs for "Road Construction" and "One Lane Road Ahead." I persevered; the road construction wasn't all that much (or bad), and the road was a treat--through the Mark Twain National Forest--following the contours of the terrain, sunshine through the heavy tree cover, little to no traffic--terrific!
When I got to Ava it was time for a break, but I screwed up leaving. I had a memory of the route going west from there, but when I started that way, the GPSs were saying north--so I turned back and went north. After a minute or so, they said 'left on CR-something,' which was a gravel road, so . no. And sporadically thereafter they'd be directing me down any number of gravel roads. Well, I was still going in the generally right direction, taking suggested paved roads when offered, and eventually got back to US60, taking 21 miles to do so instead of 13.
60 to the edge of Springfield, US65 and a bit of I-44 around it, to SR13 for a bit, and my second gas stop. Up 13 to Collins, west on US54--I'm weaving back and forth across that "Great Circle" line, always looking for a diagonal road, but not finding many when the country is flat. Speed limits tend to be 65, occasionally 60, and most traffic does +5, as do I when I'm in it--when I'm alone I do the speed limit, I don't need a ticket to slow me down even more.
I'd picked Ottawa as a reasonable place to finish the day, particularly since there was a Days Inn there, with a Wal*Mart right across the parking lot.
Along with groceries, I picked up a spool of upholstery thread, some needles, and a quart of oil--I check it daily, and it stays in the middle of the sight glass, until it doesn't. For the second time this trip it's seemingly lost almost a pint in a day (first time was in Maine, IIRC).
This morning I sewed up the zipper over that broken tooth in the Aerostich pants--it'll open from the bottom enough to get them on (without boots), and down from the top enough for bladder relief.
Wish me luck.
Motel: $64.74
Groceries: $9.83
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