North into Winter

Warm days and nights of Oklahoma are gone now.  Fall colors are just beginning in Missouri, prophesying winter.

Morning sunbeams penetrate the forest, making bright the night foliage. But not for long.  These trees become transparent in winter, and I hope that holds off for just thirteen more days, until Chicago. 

Pine Forest

These pine trees must be the envy of the hardwoods.  They will stay green, with white fluff off and on, throughout winter.  The bird will not lose his summer cover.

Loose dogs can become a menace for cyclists.  Most of us who have ridden long distances in the country have stories.  Mine involves  a little white dog that I ran over a few years ago when it came out to bark.  Little dogs seldom bite, but they like prove they are big by sounding tough.  This little yapping dog ran right in front of me.  I lost control as my front tire bumped over its back with a crunch.  I went down with minor injuries.  The dog yelped and I never saw it again.

The dog in these picture just wanted to play.  He followed me, ran beside me and ahead of me for about two miles, and he never barked.   

Café food in Missouri small towns is about like it is in Pasadena except that portions are larger and prices lower.  In this café I’d say the portions are double, and the price  half.  This is fine for climbing the hundreds of hills in these Ozark Mountains, but not so fine otherwise.

Michael Angerman updates the map of my journey every day.  Find it at:  Google Map Link for my ride from Pasadena to Chicago When you first open the map, zoom out to see the overall picture, then zoom in to any section.