Stage 3 Time Trialing on Missouri's Autobahn

I know you have been worried if I got the laundry done....well yes and no. Yes it's done, but I didn't do it. Found this cool little laundry place and the nice lady had it finished in a little over an hour....think I can make it home with a few to spare!

Time trials days during a stage race are sometimes welcomed in that we usually have a shorter day and not so many things are happening at once. For most of the motor marshals, the day is spent providing visibility out front of the rider about a football field away. For the photo guys, we are picking spots and shooting stationary. Today was really no different as we finished up around 2pm. The course layout here in Branson utilizes what seems to be a relatively new stretch of 4 lane interstate highway that is wide, smooth and steep! Which means when the boys are rolling down these hills, they are tapping into 60 plus mph....the Ozark mountain setting really is beautiful....and according to the riders...one of the hardest time trial courses out there.

My day started with thinking of breakfast! In continuing with finding the mom and pop establishments, I headed out a little earlier this morning into Historic Branson near the start to find The Shack Cafe...tried out the French toast and it hit the spot. The lady that waited my table had worked there 30 years. I asked her if the summer had been busy and she said so-so, but starting next week the "blue hairs" started coming in! Now I thought that was funny considering this lady was covering up some "blue" herself. She told me they come from mid-September to the end of November. Branson apparently started it's transformation in the 70's and turned up the wick in the 90's.

Don't know if you have ever heard of Lambert's Cafe...but http://www.throwedrolls.com/ check this place out if you ever get out to the Ozarks. Just got back from dinner....little fried chicken....slaw....greens....big ole fat yeast roll with butter and sorghum (molasses) professionally drizzled in the middle! Most all the motors gathered around the table there early this evening and enjoyed the chow. The talk was minimal....everybody was too busy stuffing their faces! But when the conversation got going, it was about the impending weather....looks like we are going to have a California repeat....wet for the next four to five days....we will see.

From the the sound of this writing, my focus has turned to food rather than bike racing and motofoto....but you know...a man's gotta eat right? In the a.m. we head to Lebanon for the start of a 100 miler to Rolla. We will be rolling through Swedeborg, Gospel, Devils Elbow, and Doolittle on the way. I will find something of interest in one of these towns to tell you about tomorrow. Thanks for tuning in....