The journey continues with unplanned adventures today. After a great nights sleep and a delicious biscuits and gravy breakfast from Jerry at the Katy Junction B&B we hit the trail about 0630.
Trail conditions were far better to start the day than yesterday and we moved along pretty well the first 25 miles or so. Todd caught a thorn in his front tire that took several minutes to find and remove. I would find myself nursing a slow leak that eventually sealed later in the day.
Shortly thereafter we saw rain clouds on the horizon. For the next hour an a half we rode through a light steady rain. Luckily it wasn’t dangerous but it was plenty to get the trail, us, and the bikes absolutely filthy.
We stopped in the Village of Hartsburg hoping for second breakfast but found nothing open. Spoke with two other riders on an out and back from Jefferson City and they advised to find anything between Hartsburg and Hermann we would have to venture a few miles off track. None of us felt like adding extra miles today and I was quite happy for our hot breakfast to start the day and having extra snacks and drink mix in my bag.
Shortly after Jeff City we found a large tree down and blocking the trail. It was too large to move, the sides looked full of poison ivy/oak, so the only way through was to portage our bikes up and over. It was at this point that I saw Todd lose his soul, sense of adventure, and any desire for future gravel riding.
Despite all this I felt far better than yesterday. My heart rate stayed manageable after spiking yesterday afternoon. Sunday Chug gravel rides out of Lawrence also prepared me well for gravel, grit, and unplanned adventure.
We worked together the best we could and eventually made it in to Hermann/McCormick. Happy to have another day in the books with great friends and to have been invited to join them these three days.
