Emily Across America

Hello from Harrison, Arkansas, the biggest town we've passed in days at about 15,000 inhabitants. Other towns in the Ozarks and the flatlands leading up to them were more like hamlets, with laughable population signs: 80, 150 (more or less, the sign said), and finally a whopping 485. Yesterday we had thunderstorms all morning that were supposed to continue all day on our first real century day, soooo! After 40 miles we stopped riding and were shuttled the rest of the way! It was AMAZING! Not to be a wimp, but I was exhausted, and today I had about the best ride ever because I was just so refreshed.

Some things I've seen in the last few days:
lots of cows and horses, and this is the season for adorable calves and foals!
finally, lots of dead armadillos, what fascinating creatures
in Arkansas, lots of rice paddies in the flat lands, also sohrgum, not a common crop, soybeans, corn, and I think cotton and potatoes
a horde of mosquitoes at our campsite that has made every single person here in itching agony

I didn't write about this earlier, but on the way to Memphis, I saw a DEAD HORSE. Just lying by the side of the road, with no eyes, rigor mortis, and tons of flies. After further investigation, in this very rural farmland, when livestock die, the county provides the free service of picking them up and sending them to either the glue factory or the "rendering" factory.

In Memphis, we went to a piano bar on Beale Street, and sang Piano Man and Country Roads and Tiny Dancer about a million times.

I had to put new tires on my bike. They are called ARMADILLOS, HAHA! Because they are puncture-resistant. Here's hoping they get me to the Pacific!

Over and out for now. This Saturday I will see my Aunt Jane and Uncle Perry in Ponca City, Oklahoma, and I am very excited for that! They are driving down from Wichita. And Calicoe and Elissa sent me an AWESOME care package.

Love, Emily