Riding the White Line

Epilogue for 1987 Tour

UNDATED

As I recall, I headed north and east from Red Rock Canyon to Winfield, Kansas, home of my friend, Susan R., and birthplace of Dawn Wells, who played Marianne on Gilligan’s Island.

I got to see her, Susan, that is, for a little bit, stopping in to catch her at the Winfield High School and then running around with her in the afternoon. I rode from there to Coffeyville, where I got a hotel room again. Next day, I headed due east across southern Kansas.

My goal was to go all the way to Branson and do a 150-mile day. I had been observing the weather and knew I would have wind behind me. I also thought I would have a flatter road than I did, but nonetheless, I flew across the countryside, getting to Carthage for lunch. I was hoping I would bump into Allison P. or Sarah P. No luck.

By late afternoon, I was into the hills of the Ozarks again, trying to make Reed Springs by nighttime. No luck. I ended up pitching the tent in a desolate stretch of woods along a creek. It was a good spot. The trees, the night birds, the smell of river, the sound of water.

I selpt cold, but well.

Next day, the roads were busy with traffic to Branson and Silver Dollar City and Table Rock Lake, but somehow I made it back to Kamp for another summer in paradise.

A Quick Trip Through Kamp

April 23, 1984

Well, I have some catching up to do. Indeed, I did take the Peel Ferry across Bull Shoals on the 19th. From there I made my way over to Forsythe and then to Kanakuk. Joe passed me in a van on Lakeshore Drive. And as soon as I came in the gate, Kris C. was the first face I saw. Coops got me a place to stay at the Doulos House. He and Bill G., brother of Preston G., were going riding at 5 p.m. Bill will be working at Wild this summer during first term. So I spent some time talking to him.

Riding the Peel Ferry across Bull Shoals Lake to the Missouri side.

The evening ride was good, but hard on me. We rode out through Hollister to U.S. 65 then nearly out to where 86 intersects and then back to Kamp. Oohwee, was I hurting.

I stayed at Kamp the next day and visited during the day and also ran into Branson to get a replacement for a screw that had come loose and some duct tape to mend my foot strap.

That evening, we threw a surprise birthday party for Jeanie Staples. Cakes, chips and homemade ice cream, that yours truly cranked, made life a feast for me.

I also got to talk to Spike that evening as well as in the afternoon. We talked a lot about his adventures in Alaska floating some of the rivers and traveling along the Al-Can Highway. I told him of my plans to bicycle from Anchorage to Santiago. He found a book about a guy who drove from Venezuela down to Tierra del Fuego back in the early 40s, and gave me it for inspiration.

Spike’s quite a man.

Anyway, from Kamp I rode down to Fayetteville in one day. I was hurting by the time I got to Fayetteville. Managed to end up with three flats on the day. They always come when you’re trying to make distance.

Stayed at home Sunday. Went to see Swing Shift with Beth R. It starred Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell.

I enjoyed it. Had some pretty good music too.

And now I’m back on the road. Cruised from Fayetteville down to Lee Creek Park [no longer maintained] near Van Buren to spend the night. The ride down was pretty good. I didn’t much enjoy riding along Highway 71, but there was less traffic than I expected.