If we were to name today’s ride, it would be “The Smorgasbord of Hell”. 

We started the day eating leftover BBQ in the hotel lobby. Dana got us free coffees because when he was checking in, the person in front of him was a titanium member, and they got free breakfast. Dana asked if a titanium bicycle got free breakfast. It did not. But they gave him coupons for 2 free MEDIUM coffees. I know this because I asked for a large. 

Our first 13 miles today were going through Kansas City starting at Amtrak’s Union station. What a beautiful city! And what a hilly city! Not too much traffic, though. Then a park, some nice farmland, a few historic markers, then onto the Rock Island trail.

The first 5 miles on the trail were lovely, and we met a nice couple from New Mexico, Kelly and Luke. This is their first long bike tour. 

But then the Rock Island trail ended. They are planning to complete it eventually. But today, we had to get on the road. A little hill up a pleasant, empty road, which led straight to a 6-lane highway. Luckily it had a median. So we waited a while, rushed across the first 3 lanes, stood in the middle of highway traffic for a while, waiting to cross the next 3 lanes. Turns out the median was also a left turn lane, but the car turning left waited for us. (Drivers around here are very courteous.) After that, a very pleasant country road, ending with a left turn, uphill, onto a 4-lane, 55mph highway with NO shoulder. We were on that for 5 miles, but it wasn’t a hill, thank goodness. About half way in, there was a narrow shoulder covered with a rumble strip. Not better. Dana tried to ride inside, I rode outside, since it hadn’t killed me yet. We had flashbacks of riding in South Carolina.

After a Gatorade stop at a gas station, we turned off the highway onto Smart Road (the name seemed appropriate), which was basically 3 miles of squirrelly loose, large gravel, sand and dirt (Smarter Rd.  Now seems more appropriate.) Then back on the trail. Which you’d think would be better, wouldn’t you?

The surface of the trail can only be described as  gravelsandmudwater. In the hot sun it was gravelsand. In the cooling shade it was sandmudwater. That went on for another few miles. (Honestly, I’ve lost track of the mileages, I was way more focused on survival).

We climbed 1100 feet in 32 miles. Like that wouldn’t have been enough without all the rest. Below is the route profile.

But now we are in the lovely little town of Pleasant Hill (an oxymoron if I ever heard one). According to the sign entering town , it was the largest chick(en) producer in the world until 1959.

We are in a really nice Airbnb above the tattoo parlor. It’s beautifully decorated with toys, books, music posters, and a kitchen table from the 60s. With an efficient air conditioner, probably not from the 60s. It reminds me a lot of my childhood, except for the air-conditioner. 

So after much needed showers, we went to the town museum and historical society. We met the folks who operate it, and their dog, and it was really interesting. They hope the town will perk up when the Rock Island trail is completed.

We asked them if the cafe next door is good. They said it’s the only restaurant in town. So as we headed to the cafe, who did we see but Kelly and Luke! They had just arrived, planning to camp for the night, so we all had dinner at 4:00. BTW, they totally agree with gravelsandmudwater . Dinner was good, although I doubt the menu has changed in decades. After his senior-sized meatloaf dinner, Dana had pie, because he could.

We just took the long way through town, back to the Airbnb. On the way we saw some historical markers, and then we got to a very, very long moving train. I think it had 6 or 7 locomotives, with whatever number of cargo cars matches that. So, instead of getting annoyed, we both thought, “Well, it’s not as bad as the 4 hour trash truck fire”. And we happily stood there for about 10 minutes, counting locomotives.

Speaking of truck fires (I promise I will never mention these again unless absolutely necessary), turns out there were 2 similar incidents in that area in the previous 3 days, and a perfume and candle truck fire the day after. We’re assuming it smelled good. And I’d rather not drive I -70 ever again.

I am exhausted, and can anyone guess what Dana is doing?  Good night.