Day 27 - Houston, MO

Today was the hardest day of the whole trip.
When I left Ellington I could already feel it was gonna be a hot day.
The climbs of the ozarks challenged me right from the first mile on.
In the Sierras you have long, steady climbs. In the Ozarks it's more like stairs. You climb up a steep hill, often 10+ %, coast down most of the elevation just gained and repeat. Due the low resolution the elevation profile shows a steady climb but on the road you've no idea how many hills are still to come, neither do you recognize anything like a summit.

It killed me.

Already completely worn out I got to Eminence, just 45km!
Had a burger and fries at a nice dairy bar where I met a couple from the Netherlands. They were heading east, like everyone I've met so far.
I'm probably the last one going west this summer, most people start 4-8 weeks earlier. Again the message system surprised me, as they knew I was Matthias! They had heard about me from a guy called Barry who in turn knew I had stayed at Al's place in Farmington. Isn't that amazing?!

From Eminence it was another steep climb to Alley Springs (one of the largest springs of the US), situated in a deep river valley which I had to leave again. It was extremely steep and I immediately felt I couldn't do it. It was impossible, like my muscles were all gone. Parked my bike under a nice shady pavillon to figure out what to do. At that moment I was ready to pitch my tent and just call it a day. Had several short naps, lots of water and just sat there gazing into space for probably an hour. Later I learned from a journal that other people had the same experience at exactly the same point...
Anyways, eventually I got back on the bike and tackled the climb. It tool me some time and many stops to the top but from that point it was much easier. Somehow I had gotten my power back.
Don't ask me what had happened, I've no idea.

After another Burger in Sommersville(or -field?) and lots rolling hills I arrived in Houston right at sunset (8pm). Got myself a motel room, which for 65 bucks was the nicest room I had so far. You usually don't get a tiled bathroom in that category.

If that day teached me a lesson it's that you have to keep going, on the bike as well as in a greater sense. A lesson every long bike ride teaches many times :D