No internet access out in toolies.
Yesterday drove from Salem, Ar thru Salem, Mo to Council Bluff Lake rec area. A 12 mile ST loop around lake. Muddy ride, didn’t feel weel for unknown reasons. Met a younger man part way thru and then back @ TH. Wages aren’t good here he said which affects what bike stuff he can afford.
Washed trail mud off in lake and then smelled of lake water.
Drove into Potosi for groceries and then out to TH for Berryman 16 miles out.
Camped in primitive no fee usfs xg site of former CCC camp. Small water impoundment about 150 feet from my van. Frogs were really going at it talking saying what they knew. What a loud noise. i captured it on recorder. No internet access.
Slept long on Sunday AM as I would be riding from van. Made scratch pancakes. Frogs are quiet.
Left on ride just after 10:00AM under low overcast skies. Took tourist map along incase I had to bail. Suspect rain. Chilly morning. Trail was not well marked; @ first intersection that should ahve been w/ the Ozark Trail, labeled “OT” went both ways, no mark for Berryman Trail. Doubled back to just make sure, yes, I was correct. Saw 2 horse riders approaching from where I came and decided that i needed to put some distance between us. Horses on soft ground will tear up trail. trail crosses numerous old roads and 1 major gravel road. Quads have been riding on trail in several spots, later I followed a dirt bike track. Trail is plainly marked no motorized vehicles.
Trail was an old hiking trail made back when. Many places a stream flowed down trail as builders invited it on and thne never gpt it off. Places it was sunk below grade from old horse traffic. Numerous wet areas. Can’t believe that this was an IMBA epic! This trail is a class act for how to run h2o down trail & route trail thru as many low spots as could be found.
23 miles. I had 28 miles stuck in my mind. At 23 plus I saw a car and then a sign for Berryman XG. I was done already. I had stored reserves for 28 miles.
rear brake is not working effectively, maybe new pads. Tomorrow’s forcast is for rain & Tshowers So I am planning on driving maybe to ST Louis for pads.
Drove into Potosi and stopped @ gas station & asked for shower location. Guy was perplexed, dumbfounded something. I finally said YMCA of the Ozarks out of town. I drove out there into a big resident camp replete w/ fancy lodge. I asked @ the desk for a shower. I was afraid they would say w/ a room you can. The clerk returned w/ good news to help myself @ another building. i am now free of 2 days of Missouri mud & sweat.
Drove back into Potosi looking for a quiet palce for internet access work. Picked usfs rs. Slow speed.
Almost hit my first animal today. A cat was looking to cross road and was part way across in the other lane and was seriously thinking about moving into my lane. Fortunately cat saved 1 of its 9 lives.