Missouri Swinging Bridges Ride
Despite the dismal weather forecasted for the first weekend of May, Bavorak members Rick Sims and Chris Hancock, along with Brian Hirshberg and Barry Shourds, headed toward Missouri for the second annual Swinging Bridges Dual Sport Ride. Like last year's event, this is not an "official" ride of any kind. That is, there was no sponsoring organization or even an entry fee. Rather, it's just an excellent ride, most of it on dirt and gravel roads, put together by guys on the AdvRider.com website. |
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But hey! There was a souvenir sticker, so it must be real ride, right? |
| Barry and Rick eagerly check their scratch-off lottery tickets during our first gas stop in Herrin, Illinois. |  |
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Unfortunately, our planned brunch stop didn't work out. Seems the name of the HotSpot had proven to be eerily prophetic. |
| Before leaving Illinois, we take a short break by the Popeye statue in Chester. |  |
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Barry thinks twice about crossing Big Indian Creek. |
| Let's just say this crossing didn't go well and leave it at that. (It had something to do with dreaded "Missouri green slime.") |  |
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Rick crossing a bridge. (But not the swinging kind. They'll come later.) |
Obligatory creek crossing photos...No bridges here. First Rick... | ||
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| Then Barry... | ||
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| Having made it across successfully, the spectating can begin. |  |
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This time Brian is the one having second thoughts. |
| Somewhere along the ride. |  |
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And finally, a couple of the swinging bridges the ride is named for. |  |
| Chris Hancock May 2009 |