We woke early and left, knowing we were likely going to get drenched as big, black rain clouds threatened. Stopped literally in 1 block after we left to put on GoreTex but it was already 71 degrees and putting on a plastic bag when it's that hot kind of seems silly; but when it pours rain, it's worth it. A kid who looked 8 years old body-wise but 15 face-wise walked out of the brake repair shop and across the street to talk to us. Showed me pics of his 8-point buck he killed. I asked if he likes living here and he emphatically said "yes". When I asked why, he said "because you can hunt and fish and ride quads pretty much anywhere". We rode bikes today off and on near Joel but not with him that much; out here we all pretty much do our own thing and go the speeds we want to go and rest when we want to rest. There's no pressure to ride WITH anyone because we're all doing our own tours, but we often pass each other, rest together, or stay at accommodations together. Vanesa had a problem with right Achilles pain today after pushing hard on yesterday's ride and that is causing both of us some worry. I applied kinesiotape in my best Physical Therapist manner and recommended high-dose ibuprofen to help with acute inflammation; that seems to be helping initially. Relatively decent morning 13 mile ride was not too bad and we stopped at Current River for photo op with Joel. Finally got a picture of us together that isn't a selfie!! The next 13 miles were much, much harder to reach Eminence. We had a tasty lunch of fish tacos with homemade guacamole (though the rice/corn/beans mixture was meh) and 2 Pepsis. We had a really hard and really hot afternoon ride, especially up the steep hill coming out of the bottom at Alley Spring, even though we had literally hosed ourselves down there. It's crazy - it wasn't THAT hot today, only about 78-80 degrees, but without shade, on STEEP hills, and with high humidity that made it somewhat rough. It was way worse as I recall in 2010, but this still was no picnic. It was probably the biggest Ozark hill climbing day, only 46 miles but it was a lof of work. Then it got easier after about 35 miles for the final 13 miles into Summersville - except, the expected 6 pm rainstorm came at 3pm and we had to very suddenly GoreTex up again for only the last 3 miles! Annoying. We met Joel in town as he waited out the storn under a church pavilion. We decided on checking out the motel before we checked the cabins; the Rusty Gate Motel turned out to be kinda sketchy, but because they have laundry we called anyway (there's no employee on site, you have to call their cell numbers and if you want a room they'll drive here and check you in) and they won’t accept service animals because owner has allergies, despite that actually being illegal. We didn't have the energy/time/desire to try to educate him in service dog laws so we simply crossed the streed and went to dinner at the only restaurant in town for a burger with fried egg, fettuccine Alfredo, Mac and cheese, strawberry cobbler, chocolate cherry cake, cherry crisp, and ice cream. Not each! That is what we ate between the three of us. Quick stop at store for cheese and cookies to take back to the motel room; wanted bananas, they had none. We went to Country Inn Cabins for lodging, which we'd called earlier and the nice lady told us she had availability for us. We all needed a bed after last night’s crappy cots in the Ellington Chamber of Commerce hostel, and it's so cheap here, only $50 (have to pay cash, bet the lady doesn't pay taxes on this home business) for a modest 2 bed room with a shower, TV, micro, fridge. It is definitely dated, right out of 1975, except for the microwave and the small 32” flatscreen tv., but it was cozy and quite clean and very comfortable. She did a great job on this room for such a low price - we've stayed in much worse places for much more money. We were super tired and went to bed early eating cookies in bed. I felt so mischievous doing that, like I was getting away with something I wasn't supposed to be doing!