I woke up early and was out of my campsite by 7, but decided to take a shower before getting on the trail. Thanks, person who reserved that campsite, for the free place to stay and shower.
I got on the Katy trail at 7:45 and stopped pretty soon for big breakfast to make up for my lack of real meals the day before. The first few miles were cold but it warmed up into a nice day before too long. These miles went by pretty easily but I found myself pretty tired/lethargic after 25 or 30 miles so I pulled over at a bench overlooking the Missouri river and lay down.
I stayed there for probably an hour, getting a little bit of sleep. Had a nice chat with a local cyclist who had previously lived in the DC area, and got back on the bike. The wind had picked up, but it was a mix of crosswinds and headwinds. Furthermore, the Katy trail is about half covered by trees and half open and when surrounded by trees you are sheltered from the wind, so the combination of these things added up to the wind not being too bad, certainly not like Illinois was.
Town after town went by that supposedly had places to eat, but none of them did. They were all closed permanently or closed at the time or were seemingly nonexistent. So I continued on a diet of Gatorade, energy bars, and once I found a convenience store, cookies and candy bars. After eating so much packaged food, I’ve gained a newfound respect for a properly produced meal, it goes down much more easily.
The miles went by slowly this afternoon, with breaks every 10 or 15 miles. I would stop and watch the river, it has a very strong current and when boats try and go upstream on it they are reduced to a crawl. The wind blows strongly across it’s surface and breaks upon the trees on the banks. Sitting on the river bank, it was simultaneously refreshing and violent – a strange mix.
I decided to stay in Jefferson City, the capital of Missouri. To continue my trip’s bridge woes, the pedestrian/bike part of the bridge was closed. Google maps walking directions told me to go 94 miles around to a different bridge. Lovely. So I once again crossed a shoulder-less 60mph freeway bridge. I tried to go to a Thai restaurant but it was only open for lunch. I’ll have to go tomorrow. The city was hilly, which was especially rough at the end of such a tiring day, but I found a motel and slept.
Today’s mileage: 82 miles.
Total: 1560 miles.
Excellent pictures of cows! Keep up the excellent photography! It almost looks like the cows are running with you.
Yeah, the cows were just hanging out 2 feet from the trail, it was kind of surreal.
Hi Galen,
Your Uncle Dan is my step-father. I’m Nancy’s daughter. Was excited for you to hear of your upcoming trip……..and w/pictures too. They are great. I hope you’re hanging in there. Doesn’t sound as though you’ve had too many complications. At least you seem to over come them. How’s that saddle seat, breaking in anymore? Like wearing a new pair of shoes on a long hike. I heard your dad is a good writer, you seem to take after him. I liked the analagy of the “wind” differences. I might have to read that again. I know what you mean, just don’t understand it quite as well. I especially love the pictures of the towns and people. This whole experience is going to be so memorable for you & I wish you the best of luck.
“Happy Trails” (how corny is that?)
Take care,
Sandy