A lot has happened but not that many stories wich means it pretty much went just as I had hoped.
These fours days were a sprint across Missouri on the Katy trail supported by my parents. 240 miles on a crushed gravel trail with almost no hills. It was like a vacation from my vacation. Easy miles, nice hotels, big meals, and family.
The Katy is another Rail Trail Hall of Fame trail. It is also the longest Rail Trail in the US. Missouri State Parks deserves serious props for this trail. It is great. Well maintained (far better surface than the Flint hills trail in KS), excellent way finding, informative interpretive signs, and lots and lots of benches. Benches are the most underrated amenity on a trail. They give you a place to rest, eat, and a place to prop your bike. We need more benches! Lastly it is almost completely shaded by a canopy of trees.
Day one was 75 miles that saw me tick over 3000 miles since leaving Oregon. Woot-woot! I also got a flat that cost me 2 hours (I know how to change a tube but not this day), boo!
Day two was 92 miles. This is the longest day of the trip! It also landed in a spot that was wine country (foo-foo expensive inns) so my dad picked me up and we had a nice hotel a bit off the trail. Go, go, gadget parents!
Day three I pulled back on programming big mileage and had a cruiser 60 miles. I had time to stop and get a beer at a trail side brewery. They gave me a free beer after they learned I had come from Oregon. Then another couple bought me a beer. After the third free beer from another guy I poured myself out of there and finished off the last 20 miles. Beer: good for smiles but not great for miles, they were not fast.
Day four I said goodbye to my folks, played nine holes at a mediocre executive course, finished off the rest of the trail, entered Illinois over another intense bridge, and did a few more miles.
I am headed to the Ohio Erie Trail and thought I just had to get across Indiana. To be honest I had forgotten about Illinois (I blame public education). So likely five days to Indianapolis and a few more to get on the trail.
One response to “Day – 61-64 Fast Forward”
I’m catching up on your posts after being gone on vacation. Congrats on hitting 3,000 miles! I now have a whole different opinion of benches. 92 miles in a day sounds like quite the accomplishment! Free beer sounds like a win and so great you had that time with your folks. I don’t think you cheated at all. Your diet plan seems to also be panning out. Safe travels in your last month of your adventure!