Day 7: Monday

Tm: 6:30:02
Dst:85.61
Avg: 13.1
Mx: 40.1

I got up early and enjoyed a great tailwind, perfect temps, and cloud cover.  I was on the road by 6:30.  Leaving early was nice.  The roads from Lexington to Orrick were relatively flat.  After that, it got hilly once again.

I stopped in Orrick for breakfast around 9:00.  Then I climbed, descended, over and over.  The area I rode through today was full of new "rural" housing developments filled with McMansions on the fringes of the Kansas City area. 

Several times while I was climbing uphill at an excruciatingly slow pace, exhausted from the effort, stupid little dogs would chase me.  Oh, how my legs were tired after the sudden, unexpected effort of fleeing angry poodles uphill.

After many confusing turns (who designed this route!?) I made it to Holt, where I took a rest in the city park.  After Holt, I climbed and descended my way to Paradise, where I enjoyed some ice cream and another rest. 

The last stretch was tiring and hot.  I finally made it to the Super 8 in Smithville.  There was nothing around but Subway, McDonalds, and pizza.  So I had pizza again (too much of a good thing!)  The hotel clerk let me take some laundry soap and use it to wash clothes in my bathtub.  She also let me dry my clothes in their dryer for free, which was nice. 

I'm ready for bed after this long day.