L&C Section One ... Done

My bike trip from Saint Louis, MO, to Omaha, NE, was completed on May 23rd. It took me 11 days to get up here. I rode 60.49 miles/day, on average. Speed was 13.59 mph overall, with a maximum speed of 40.1 mph (those annoying hills in Missouri). The shortest day was 37.27 miles. The longest was 89.41 miles. Altogether I got 49 hours of pedaling in. Altogether, that's 665 miles. I rode through sections of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, and Nebraska.

I would say that this was by far the most challenging bike trip I've taken. There was a lot of rain, mud, unending hills (in Missouri), and abundant gravel. But long sections, especially the 150 miles of Katy trail and the roads of Kansas, were very peaceful and scenic. For one entire day of riding on the Katy trail, I saw only one person. The small-town lodging of bed and breakfasts in Missouri wine country (who knew Missouri had a wine country?) gave me opportunities to visit with many people, bikers and otherwise.

And every trip has its oddities. I saw a legendary man-eating bird (well, a mural of one) and a bunch of boats upended in a sort of "boathenge" (think of "carhenge)." I saw a woman rescue a turtle along the trail. I fought off HUNDREDS of poorly instructed Cub Scouts trying to earn their bicycling merit badges. Oh, and there was a life-sized cutout of John Wayne.

Here are a few snapshots from the trip. In a few months, or whenever I can get it done, I'll have the full travel log online under the "cycling" menu. Until then, here you go:

I started my ride at the Gateway Arch in downtown Saint Louis, MO, before crossing into Illinois. No, that isn't the arch in the picture ... this is just north of it along a trail. Notice the rain coat. It was raining. It was always raining.

These caves are near Alton, IL. That tiny speck in the middle of the picture is my bike. These are big caves.

Some typical scenery from an old railroad bridge along the Katy trail. Just me, the trail, the river, and the bluffs. Beautiful.

The only tunnel on the Katy trail. Cool.

Oh, thank God for Kansas. Flatness, sweet flatness. I was so tired of cars and trucks on the curvy, hilly roads of Missouri.

Nebraska state line! I'm almost there!

But first, I had to push through some ridiculous mud. It was so difficult, I had to laugh at myself for being out there. Did I mention it was raining?

Omaha, at last. What a trip. I hope to have the rest of the pictures online soon.

-Jason