Jim's Ride Across America: Day 23 Farmington, MO to Ellington, MO

Yorktown, VA to Ellington, MO Completed 1,313 Miles

Biking Detail Farmington, MO to Ellington, MO

Day 23 Wednesday, June 3

Got an earlier jump on the day as will be a longer day of biking to get to Ellington (about 62 miles). Left at 7:30 am. Andreas and Ed leaving the hostel about 30 minutes later so should see them along the way. Read that first 13 miles flat. Must have been written by someone driving! Steady slow incline out of Farmington on 221 and at 6 miles fairly good incline at 12%. Decent shoulder. Got to Pilot Knob at 9:00 am...16 miles. Stopped at the Rustler Cafe and had second breakfast...a wagon wheel pancake! See photo...it was big and delicious. Andreas and Ed, the biker from Conneticut met up with them in Chester, came in as we were about to leave. They will likely catch me on the hills.

Got onto HWY N shortly after Pilot Knob. Nicely paved two lane and lush green pretty ride following the Black River for first several miles. Can hear it but not really visible from the road. No shoulder on this stretch but not too much traffic. One incline just past Pilot Knob then downhill for almost 17 miles. Rolling hills for miles! Go through Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park lush green area. Got to Centerville at 12:30 non-stop from Pilot Knob (28 miles). Not a bad ride despite all the rolling hills. Had a nice little break at 21 Diner. Ordered a turtle hot fudge sundae and it came in a stiro coffee cup (see photo). Never did find the hot fudge?? Good to have a saddle break though. Quaint road side diners...rural America at its best! Love it.

Some pretty steep climbs between Centerville and Ellington and lots of truck traffic with no shoulder

. One hill checked in at 18% at about the 36 mile mark. The road surface looked good but was a little bumpy every 5ft perhaps due to frost heaves. This went on for 12 miles. Guess I'm getting a little picky. Arrived in Ellington at 3:00 and found the Scenic River Motel to be perfect. Couple blocks off the trail. Grandma Kathy, owner, and grandson Brantley got us checked in. Will see them in the photo. Brantley is three and helps at the front counter. So cute! Will do a walking tour of Ellington, which probably spans 1 1/2 blks.

After dinner at Sosa's Pizza place we chatted with Andreas and Ed from Conneticut for awhile. Ed wants to pick up the pace so he'll have more time to visit Seattle and places in the Northwest after he completes the Transamerica. We also met Lydia who is 19 and traveling solo from Colorado Springs heading East. She lives in Tallahassee, Florida. We wish both Ed and Lydia a safe journey.