Cyclists from all over the globe stay here as they ride across America. This map on the wall has pins in from where they all come from.

The jersey is from the tour de Missouri which just had to be a very tough tour knowing the hills ghey have here!

Inside als place there is everything for a tired trsnsam cyclist...its a superb example of what a cycle or backpacker hostel should be. If you are riding the trsnsam make sure you stay here.

Tonight I'm sleeping in the jailhouse that is now called als place in Farmington Missouri. Shinto is in the bike shop over the road getting a tune up.

The moat that surrounded the fort at the centre of the battle. The tens were trying to take it from the outnumbered unipn forces. They could have just shot it up with cannon from the surrounding hi ground but noooo...they had to charge it head on and get cut to ribbons.

Shinto on the battlefield at pilot knob Missouri

The Missouri state flag flying on the black river today

Oh really...I'm not so sure my god requires either..just that I live the life I have been given well and make the.most of the chances I make for myself and don't puss others off too much along the way.

Todays ride from Ellington to Farmington Missouri was another hilly ride. But after a night in the motel I felt better and even with no breakfast or lunch and just two pepsis my legs got me to farmington easily over some really steep hills. On the way I was again attacked by a dog running free ..the owners are a danger to cyclists and should be made to keep their mutts off the highway.
I stopped at the usual run down gas stations here for a couple of cokes , a few friendly people and rode on to pilot knob...which isn't a condition affecting airline captains but a civil war battlefield in Missouri. Here I was lost in the past..I like all the history and the story of what happened here. The old fort is still visable and the ammo dump that blew up and left a crator...I think the union guys were in the fort and the rebels were attacking it. I could have stayed longer but wanted to get to the bike shop in Farmington before it closed to get Shinto patched up.
I passed the usual deluge of churches with weird messages from god outside..past placards asking me to vote Michael Jackson to the senate..or was it Sherrif...and into farminton. Here I was welcomed by no less than bud the head of parks in his truck...I found the bike shop and it looks like they will do a good job. Opposite the bike shop is als place..a purpose built bike hostel for riders of the trsnsam route..how cool!

The place is built in the old jailhouse and inside it is home..clean, tidy, lounge kitchen beds showers laundry computers all I want..air con..the works. I will rest here.
Whoever made this place happen is a star!
There should be mote places like this on the route..who knows maybe I could set one up.
Todays roadkill count was three armadillos one snake two dogs (hopefully the ones who attack cyclists) one cat one owl and several small rodent like things with black and white tails..
...back to als place...there is a map here of where cyclists come from all over the world to ride the trsnsam..very cool hostel...and there wad a jail break from here and they used dynamite to escape..to cool!!

Elevation profile for yesterday and today.

Current river Missouri...one of the few rivers with water in this summer..and this one was less than half full.

Hills like this one look harmless in a photo but trust me they are killer hills and go on forever, mile after mile of steep sharp hills with the last ten metres always getting even steeper just as your legs ate screaming out for amputation lol!

Jacks fork river at ally spring missouri

Today I went to church...well..the ride from Houston to Ellington Missouri was hot..long..tough..and a rollercoaster ride of steep sharp climbs I'd guess at about 20% grade for the mostpart. The frustrating thing was that as soon as you get to the top you go down again and have to climb it all over again. Here whoever built the roads didn't want to follow rivers...they just built roads straight up and down any hill in their path...even the FedEx truck had a problem on one hill. I stopped in eminence and my ice cream radar took me directly to a pint of soft ice...then a second..oops ;)
I have to be honest and say that Ellington is not a nice town. It seems very rundown and looks like many places are out of business and people seem pretty hard up here. I went to the Jesus is lord bike hostel on my map but Jesus was pissed that he was still on the cycle map.
...on the ride I'd ran out of water again..its so hot...just then a miracles from the almighty himself...a pentocostal baptist vhucrch of faith god and all things holy appeared with a tap and a watering can...to a hot cyclist like me this is called a free shower!
I tried the warm shower host in town but he said he needed three days notice and e mail confirmation...erm..mate that's not really any good to a cycle tourist...so I tried the city park...shitsville is a term I don't use often but here it is justified...so I headed for the only.motel in town mostly so I would feel safe around here. Expensive few days.
The Ozarks are ok I guess but the Rockies were more scenic and fun to ride. Maybe I've been spoilt lol!
I was only chRged twice by hlbilly dogs today and both backed down when I discussed their life expectancy if they continued to behave that way with them.
Why don't people here keep their dogs under control
??

Shinto is on teal need of a service..the gears are slipping on the hills making riding really tough..I tightened the cable but it makes no real difference so I guess it needs a new cable...the map shows a bike shop I'm farmington...I'm going to church first thing tomorrow to pray for it to be open lol! I swear there seem to be two churches for every one person here..but I've not yet seen anybody at church. I don't want to offend anyone...but to my.mind around here religion seems to be taken to extremes...but...I thank thew lord for todays free shower..amen ;)

Shinto in the Ozark mountains today