Taking a break in central MO

Installing the skylight before it gets too hot!

We arrived in central Missouri on July 4th and we have been taking a little break from riding.  We have had some time to spend visiting with both of our families. Beth had a chance to catch up on the pile of laundry that had been accumulating and cleaned the RV from top to bottom.  I installed the replacement skylight today and hope I don't have to do that again.  

I spent several hours cleaning and lubricating the bikes.  The tandem was in need of some pretty serious work.  I pulled apart and lubricated the bearing on the main drive axle, found the source of a couple of shifting problems (bent rear derailleur that I straightened), new tires and new chains.  The tandem seems to take about 3 times the maintenance of a regular bike, but it well worth it to able to ride with Beth and enjoy the trip together.

We have one more day of R&R here in the Jefferson City area before we resume our ride across the USA.  We'll be restocking the RV tomorrow with groceries, getting propane, and finding a car wash to clean off the bugs one more time...a really big car wash!

I am actually getting a little antsy to get back on the bike and tackle the hills.  We plan be in south-central Kentucky by next Saturday where we will to visit Beth's older bother, Jeff and his wife Yolie in Clarksville, TN.  Then ride on to a rest day and make a side trip to Mammoth Caverns National Park.  Then it's on to Cumberland Gap and the Blue Ridge Mountains.