Sunday afternoon

The Thanksgiving holiday was enjoyable for our household.  Our daughter lives nearby and spent the day with us.  She helped Jan cook up the meal and we took our time at table.  No turkey this year (or ever if you listen to our daughter!), but other meat and fixin’s were in abundance.

I was able to get out on the road a couple of times, once when Jan and Sarah went for a pre-dinner walk, and the other when they went to see some movie about vampires a couple of days later.  The third ride was with Jan on Sunday afternoon.  The weather and temps were glorious.  A local blogger has mentioned his amazement at the string of good weekends we have had.  This last weekend was no different.  Jan and I got the hybrids  out and repeated a ride from a few weeks ago.  We went to the old iron bridge over Lake Springfield.

We headed south since I wanted a tail wind on the way home.

We went through the neighborhoods of Glendale High School.  These trees have now lost most of their fall beauty.

But some trees still have a way to go.  There are some pine trees in this area from which Jan hopes to collect some pine cones for Christmas decorations.

We made a quick stop to see Sarah.  Her dogs were there too.

No caption needed…..

This way has once more become a major route out of SE Springfield with the completion of the Hwy 65/60 interchange.

Hwy 65 is now a six lane road down the east side of town.  Earlier views of construction may be seen here.

Construction took about three years and EVERYONE is glad it is finished.

The bike/hike trail is now open.

A view from off the old iron bridge.  It was closed off to cars years ago.  I remember as a lad our family driving over it on trips down to Ozark and points south and east.

I suggested doing a small loop and Jan was game.  FR181 climbs out of the Springfield Lake/James River valley for about a mile.  It is not too bad of a climb over all.

Granny gear time

We passed by FR186 and went on to Evans Road. FR186 will take you east to Rogersville.

We stopped at the gas station on Evans Road.  Some guy was in the restroom for so long I thought he was taking a bath.

Our loop took us back over Hwy 65 …

Endless traffic that never stops. I would hate to live by a highway.

 … and by the Missouri Veteran’s Cemetery.

May they rest in peace.

I did not stop to take the above photo, but after that experience I decided to no longer ride downhill one handed, photo opportunity notwithstanding.

Our route back towards home took us through the lake flood plain, once more open to users.

Very little can beat being out on two wheels on an afternoon like this.

These new overpasses were made to bridge over some railroad tracks. They are better to ride under than the older ones.

After leaving the area of the highway we avoided the trail, riding on the streets where we could.  The walkers were out in force and we wanted to leave them in peace as much as possible.

We made a final stop at the parking lot of the Galloway Station.  I figure bar and tavern parking lots are a good place to look for money come Sunday morning.

I found 5¢.

Stay happy,

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