From my sister’s to the Katy trail in Missouri it is 100 miles. There really isn’t much between the two. So I did some slack packing or riding without gear and getting rides to and from the route. I got dropped off back where I left the trail by my sister and peddled 45 miles to a gas station where my dad picked me up. The next day he dropped me off back at the same gas station and I peddled to Clinton Missouri the western terminus of the Katy trail.
It felt like cheating riding Alice and then riding in the truck to my parents for dinner with the whole family and a comfy bed. But it was just what I needed. With the Zero day before and nice easy rolling miles I have recovered from the abuse of my Kansas program and got a significant mental boost seeing the family.
The farms of Missouri are nice and the rolling hills of eastern Kansas have blended into similar countryside here in Missouri. the weather is also great with highs in the mid to slightly warmer 80s.
The days ahead look nice too. My parents are going to continue their support for the Katy trail another 240 miles to St. Louis.
Health update. I continue to feel good. I took time at my sister’s to install some handlebar pads and new tape to help relieve some of the wrist pain. This has helped a great deal. I will say even though the daily effort energy wise has been the same the increased miles have made my joints: knees, hands, wrists, and neck more sore than earlier in the trip. No injuries but certainly ready to be done at the end of the day and slightly slower to “warm up” in the morning. Lastly I had a chance to weigh myself and I have lost 25 lbs. I feel this will be the lightest I get as my stomach has stretched and the opportunities for food have increased since leaving the Divide trail.
