Monday 6-7-10

Friday the 4th we rode from New Franklin back towards Jefferson City. We made about 30 of the 43 miles on the KATY trail. Had dinner at a very quaint port of call on the river called Cooper’s Landing. Had a nice conversation with the cook, Dale a retired firer fighter / roofer from Indianapolis. We had some excellent grilled corn on the cob and BBQ chicken. Coopers came recommended by a guy we meet on the trail, actually from Kankakee. Also got to see a family of black snakes that lived in a tree by the trail head going in and out of old knots in the tree. It was entertaining for Marta and I while we waited for the kids to find the trail head we were at (McBaine).

We took Saturday off to work on packing the bikes. went to Columbia to do some shopping and saw a movie - Robinhood, pretty good.

Yesterday the 6th was our first day on our own without Marta and the van and pop up. We finally got going around 11:30 after finishing packing the bikes and the trailer. It was a late start and pretty warm and hilly. We made it 24 miles to the lovely little town of Arrow Rock. We stayed at the State Park just outside town. Nice Showers. The town of Arrow Rock was pretty much closed up by the time we got there. It is pretty much a restored town going back to when it was first settled in the mid 1800’s. Reminded me of Colonial Williamsburg, but on a smaller scale and with out the period dressing people. Very lovely town. Would like to have spent sometime when it was open.

Today the 7th we headed out around 8:15. It was mostly overcast with a high in the mid 80’s, though now at this writing, 7:00 PM there is a nice breeze and the sun is out and probably in the mid 70’s. We made it to Blackburn MO., a Varna, where we live, size town without the Casey’s unfortunately. It was a hilly ride, Started the day with Emma
and I on the Tandem pulling the cart and finished with Andrew and I on the tandem pulling the cart. We made about 35 miles. We meet some kind of police officer at a McDonalds, while getting some ice cream, hoping charge cell phones and log on, we talked about what was between Marshal and Higginsville and he made a quick call to the mayor of Blackburn the only town of any size between Marshall and Higginsville, to let her know the city park would have visitors for the evening. Later I believe a county deputy, Deputy Coleman, was stopped checking to make Sure Emma was okay, while she was sitting on the side of the rode waiting for Andrew and I to catch up with the Tandem when we did catch up. He is from Blackburn also, so we were well covered for our stop.

In Marshal we stopped by the park for Jim the Wonder Dog, not only could he hold point on pheasant, but also follow commands in several different languages and pick the Kentucky Derby winner, 7 years in a row among other many incredible things. He was indeed a wonder. He lived from 1925 to 1937. No place to post this today but will hopefully tomorrow.

6-11-10
On 6-8-10 we rode from Blackburn to Lexington, about 32 miles. It rained lightly to Higginsville, then was warm and humid. From Higginsville to Lexington. In the middle of no where outside Mayveiw, MO., on the route we meet a very sweet little old lady Ruth Daehler, going to be 91 years old July 12th. She has lived there since 1948 with her husband who passed away about 14 years ago. She is thinking about moving to a retirement home sometime here but seems to be doing well as she is. She is famous in the area for her homemade flavored mints, about 6 different flavors. She offered us a plate but we couldn’t take them with us so we each ate 4 or 5 of the different flavors. We got into Lexington, pulled into the Sonics for a well earned shake (on sale 2 for 1). called around to try and find someplace to camp. no luck. So we decided to head down a block to a hotel we saw coming in. On our way the sky’s let loose. We were glad to be in a hotel and not a tent.

Wednesday was to be a rest day. We got up later than usual and did laundry next to one of the older Maid Rite restaurants in the franchise, had a great burger, then headed down the road about 12 miles to Henrietta, Varna size town, which listed as having camping. It did have an RV parking lot type place with no facilities. On our way we stopped at the Casey’s to cool down and have a drink, struck up a conversation with the manager, Birgitt. Lucky for us she offer us her backyard and bathroom if we weren’t happy with the RV park. We took her up on it. Andrew & Emma got to spend time with their daughters Jessica (16) and Rebecca (12). Jim, Birgitt’s husband, took me for a drive along the route and showed us what we had to ride the next day. He figured out a way to go that cut off about 10 to 15 miles and put us much closer to the park we would be camping at. This was a huge deal. We wouldn’t have made it otherwise as you will read.

On Thursday we got up and were ready to go by 7:15. We were at the Casey’s ready to go. And Jim and family were there to head to a an appointment in Kansas City, when Jim mentions, hey you have flat, sure enough the front tire of my bike was flat. Got that fixed and rode out of Casey’s and went 50 feet and the back tire went flat. This is the same tire that went flat on the first day. Ended up replacing the tire, inside of the tire was coming apart, and tube. About 8 miles later the front tire went flat again in the middle of know where but close to some shade. Tires held up rest of the day until we almost rolled into the camp ground, front tire went flat again. It was about a 32 mile day with some tough hills. We stayed at Watkin Mills State Park. It is the site of a woolen mill started in the 1850’s.

Today Friday, 6-11-10, started out over cast threatening rain then turned sunny and hot (low 90‘s), and humid. We visited the museum for the woolen mill and the family that had it and several other businesses based on water power, then steam power. We then headed for Smithville. Along the way, in Holt stopping by a store to cool off, we ran into Randy A. from the Kansas city area. A biker in a lot better shape than we are. He helped with ideas on a problem with the rear chain on the tandem binding up and jumping that started just before we got to Holt. We need to look at some different things to fix. It may be a problem with the front chain wheels. We made it almost to Smithville when Marta’s brother Tim rescued us from the heat. We are spending the night in a Hilton ($40 on Priceline) He is going to drop us in Fall City where we will pick up a package of supplies at the post office on Monday.