Thursday, 6/19 Day 4 - Booneville to Sedalia

Today's ride is supposed to be 37 miles, finally an easier day, or so we thought -- WRONG.  We started our morning by riding up lard hill, and then just kept climbing the rest of the day.

Here's a SAG stop at Clifton City.

I also had my first flat tire, going down a small incline, I hit a rock just right.  I thought I was fine a few yards then the air went out.   One of the guys I was camping with happened to be riding back toward me, because he likes to get as many miles in as he can when he rides the Katy, and he stopped to help.  I was 5 miles past the last SAG, and 8 miles to Sedalia. 

Here are some pictures of my other biking friends, new and from last year too.An

Natalie

Cleve who saved me from a flat tire disaster

Dawn who took cares of everyone! Sorry Adam, Myra and Kathy, I couldn't find you when I was shooting pictures.

Actual mileage

Wednesday, 6/18 Day 3 - Jefferson City to Booneville

  

Day 3 was supposed to be 52 miles. 


I didn't take many pictures on the trail today because I regularly ride and train on this section of the trail.  Instead, I took pictures of our accommodations.


This is our little tent city courtesy of Padre's Cycle Inn

And the shower truck

We were supposed to bike 52 miles but is was actually

The day ending mileage with terrific burgers at Maggie's in Booneville.

Tuesday, 6/17 Day 2 - Hermann to Jefferson City

Today was supposed to be 49 miles.

 

We started by riding a half mile to the fire station for breakfast.

We had SAG stops at Bluffton but I missed the picture.  Here's the

SAG at Stedman

SAG at Tebbets.

Guess where?

Here's I am at the North Jefferson Trailhead, but I can't remember who I was talking to. 

Here's a link to the pedway that crosses the Missouri River Bridge, that goes into Jefferson City.  We biked up it at the end of our day and then down it to start the next day. 

Right across from the Cathedral, where our teacher's meeting are held is where we camped for the night.

Mileage for the day was

Monday, 6/16 Day 1 - St. Charles to Hermann

Today's ride was supposed to be 64 miles but actually it was 65.

We camped by the river last night and I  left St. Charles at 6:40 this morning.

We had rest stops at:

Greens Bottom Rd

 

Now 17 miles in at 

Here's Augusta at 27 miles

Stopped for lunch at Marthasville even if it was only 11am.  I had a quick sandwich with a nice couple from California.  They had flown in to St. Louis and rented bikes for the ride.  I only saw them again in the last 3 miles of the ride.

And here's another SAG stop. SAG = support and gear, which usually means Gatorade bananas and water.  

I finally got in around 3 pm.  I ate with a friend I met last year, Adam and a new friend Frank.  We ate at Herman Wurst Haus for brats and kraut, great food, great friends and great times. 

Today's final mileage

Last day, Day 5 6/20 Sedalia to Clinton

Here I am at the highest point on the trail.  While the elevation doesn't seem like much, east to west is seems to be one long, slow, steady climb.  We still went up more hills after we finished this one.

Here I am crossing the finish line at the final check in, finishing 270 miles strong!

And the beginning of a post ride meal! 

Today's the Day - Day 0

Today's the day I am dropped off at Frontier Park in St. Charles.  If you look closely at the map, it shows St. Charles as being a TH - or trail head, however if you look Northwest of that just a little it shows Machens.  If the weather permits, after I get dropped off, I am biking on to Machens and back.

Here are the pictures.

I made it to Machen and back

It was an awesome quick ride - saw my first minor bike accident. Someone fell off, we stopped and checked on her, and in we all went.  

Blogging Again

Yes, last year I did make the ride, and signed up to do it again this year.  I am every bit as excited as last year, and not as nervous about making it.  I leave tomorrow!

Hey SPX kids!  This is what your teachers do for fun!