Jeff’s Missouri Bicycle Trip Report - 05/23/09
Day 6 - Afternoon
I was done with lunch at 1:30 p.m., and back on the trail. Later in
the afternoon I passed a gentleman who was walking in the same direction I was
going. He wasn’t going too much slower than me. I was getting sleepy tired, and
wondered if I could half sleep while riding. Having passed a bench a while back,
I decided that if I saw another one in the shade, I’d stop for a nap. Shortly
after, at 3:37 p.m., I came across the perfect spot, with a river view too! 
I
was almost asleep when some bicyclists passed by. A short time later I heard a
fading child’s voice say, “That man back there looked like he was dead.” I was
there for 25 minutes, and it sure did me good. Met up again with the walking
gentleman, and stopped to talk a bit. He showed me a spot in the river’s
backwater where catfish like to stay. I’m sure when you’re walking (and awake)
you notice more. Some of the best cliff scenery is in this area approaching
Rocheport. 
I arrived in Rocheport at 5:25 p.m., and stopped at the Trailside
Cafe for a root beer float. There were a lot of people around, and it looked
like I just missed a live music event outside the place. At 5:46 p.m. I was on
my way, heading for the most scenic spot on the trail – the tunnel. 
This tile block
elevator provided an interesting spot for a break at 6:35 p.m. 
This poor
tree. The wind is slowly chopping it in 2 against the roof edge. 
Here’s the elevator in the west sunlight (looking
behind). 
At 7:12 p.m., I arrived at the New Franklin trailhead. There were
3 bicyclists there. One asked about my bike and my trip. He and his friends
were taking part in the Pedaler’s Jamboree. They were actually helping the
organizer of the event, by following at the rear to help anyone who fell behind
due to bike problems. The Pedaler’s Jamboree was a 2 day biking/camping event
from Columbia to Boonville and back, with live band entertainment at several
locations along the way. The biker I’d been talking to begged me to join them at
Boonville (promised I could get in for free and camp for free). I think he was
intrigued that I was doing my trip on a “work bike”, as he called it. He
encouraged, “It’s just 3 more miles.” I’d been bicycling long enough by now
to know you shouldn’t put the word “just” in front of “3 more miles”! I
could have made it, but had reservations at the Katy Roundhouse Campground, and
was looking forward to getting to bed early. I thanked him. I’m sure it would
have been fun. I checked the trailhead board to find the location of the
campground, which turned out to be just around the bend. There apparently had
been live music there also. I had to ask a camper about how to check in. I
parked my bike at campsite #9 and walked back across the trail to
self register. 
When I got back,
the daughter of the family camping at site #8 walked over and invited me to join
her family for supper. That was totally unexpected! They had hot dogs with
fixings, chips and fruit. I roasted a hot dog and had chips and sweet tea. When
I was telling them about my trip and the planned rest of the journey, I was
pronouncing the name of the town Bolivar so wrong that only the wife was able to
figure out what I was trying to say. They asked how many miles I’d gone, but I
hadn’t added them up. It was great having supper with them, and they were so
kind, but I needed to get my tent set up. Got it pitched and then took a shower
in another very clean shower house. Outside the shower house, sitting on the
backrest of a bench, was this fellow. There were several around. (I just noticed
this fellow has his eye on a bug on the wall.) 
Subject:
Day 6 - no picture
Date: Saturday,
5-23-2009 10:59 p.m. Up at 5:45 a.m. Talked to biker who needed water from “my
house”. Ate leftover pizza and coffee for breakfast. Left at 8:50 a.m.
12:45 p.m.
lunch at Dotty’s in Hartsburg.
1:30 p.m. back on trail.
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.: nap
on trail bench.
5:30 p.m. rootbeer float in Rocheport.
7:30 p.m. at Katy
Roundhouse site #9. Had hot dog, chips, and sweet tea at site next door.
56
miles
7:02 on bike moving
7.9 average moving speed
Had shower. Good
night.
Jeff
Day 6: 59 miles in 10 hours, 40 minutes = 5.5 mph
(includes napping time).
Spent: $1.25 (Powerade) + $15.11 plus $3 tip (lunch)
+ $4.55 (root beer float) + $6.00 (campsite fee) =
$29.91.
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