Southern Hospitality

Oklahoma was the most bicycle-unfriendly state we've found.
People in Missouri love us!

There is less trash on the side of the road, and drivers are more courteous.  Even though there still isn't any shoulder, drivers will wait behind us until it's safe to pass.  Unlike SOME places where drivers sneak up on us and honk and then have the passenger yell, "Get off the road!"  at us.

We've had many people pull up and ask if we need water.  I've had many people pull up and let me know that my biking partner is walking his bike, but looks like he'll be along soon.

This also seems to be the state of the mean, unfenced, unleashed dog.  I've been chased here almost every day.  So far, I've grabbed the pepper spray, but haven't had to use it.


Yesterday, we passed a funeral procession going the other direction, and then came to a stretch of bad dogs.  We weren't riding together at that point, but had been trying to warn each other about the dogs and report back using walkie talkie when we had safely passed.
Peter had a slightly different experience than I did.  Not only was he chased by a dog, but he was also chased by a goat.  Luckily, the funeral director had returned and was ready to drive the goat and dog off with his SUV.  He pulled over to chat with Peter about his own biking adventures.  Peter overcame his shyness long enough to get us invited to the funeral home for showers!

We made it to the funeral home, which was a little short of our goal for the day, but we got to take showers and do laundry.  Plus we got a tour of Doniphan, MO, including the boat dock at the Current River, the pizza place, our host's home - where we had pizza and beer, and Hanz got to do some shooting - and - the most exciting part, we got a tour of the funeral home and got to see what a funeral home director does.  A win-win for everyone.

We spent the night in the camper, plugged in to funeral home electricity.  It was so cool.  We invited our new friend to come to California, but he says he doesn't think he'd ever do anything THAT crazy.


At the Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan, MO  with our host Spencer.