Stage 16 - Ellington MO, 60mi (97km)

With a warm day in prospect, forecast in the high 80's (30C), Norma (from Boston) and I were on the road not long after 7am. We stopped for coffee & breakfast at the first gas station and later again in Centerville before ending the day at Ellington for a total of 69mi (97km). The first half of the ride was on roads that would have been busy on any day but Sunday. 

Most of the route felt less hilly than yesterday's. The exception came after Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park, where there was a section on Route N that had some steep, short hills. 

The weather in the morning was perfect, the sun covered by fog and clouds before the sky finally cleared up in the early afternoon. Today I encountered three dog chases. One of them was a defense against four dogs at a time, one running from the right and three from the left – I felt like D’Artagnan fighting against Richelieu’s soldiers. But instead of the sabre I defended myself with pepper spray…

Norma is a great company, easy going and a very strong cyclist. It feels good having someone aside, especially from the social perspective after a long day of riding. Tomorrow we continue together towards Houston (Missouri).