80 miles ridden – 2400 feet climbed – temperature 25C.

Today we were trying to get to Ripley before expected thunderstorms. Although it was much cooler, the humidity made things a bit uncomfortable as our absolutely sodden clothes did not dry the way they do in a hot wind.

Sad farewells after breakfast as we left Darin facing an 8 hour drive back to Fort Worth (Texas) with minor compensation being the very attractive and quiet country lanes. Most of our route follows the MRT – Mississippi River Trail – designed for bikes and quite well signposted.

Our first SAG stop was outside the Shelby Forest General Store. Entering the store was like stepping back in time – aside from the products on sale I doubt it had changed much in 40 years. The lady inside was extremely keen to discuss the Royal Wedding with me – which of course I was very keen to do. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the welcome we have received almost everywhere we have been is amazing.

There were sections of the ride where it looked like I was riding up in Suffolk:

and then we’d pass vegetation more like a rainforest or tropical flood plains:

I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with the houses which seemed to typically range between pretentious South Fork wannabes and northern New Jersey but I did see one house that had character.

I had my first dog chase today. Fortunately the psycho German Shepherd was on a chain that stopped him in his tracks but a small black terrier type thing leapt over a flooded ditch to give his best shot and catching me. The little guy ran for ages to try and catch me but his legs couldn’t have been more than 6 inches long! However, respect where it is due.

Ripley’s claim to fame it that within its limits lies an area called Nutbush where one Anna Mae Bullock – better known as Tina Turner – grew up. Because it is unincorporated there aren’t actually any Nutbush City Limits and I wonder if that means the song contravenes the Trades Description Act.

A number of us were extremely focussed and motivated today by the knowledge, gently slipped out before we loaded this morning, that opposite our hotel in Ripley was a Dairy Queen. We seemed to come across a Dairy Queen (DQ to regulars) in almost every town we stayed in when we crossed the US but this was the first this trip (over 650 miles) and the relief amongst most of the riders was palpable.

We beat the rain and I had a DQ strawberry milkshake. It’s the simple things in life that make a difference.