Clinton to Boonville

After yesterday's heat, we decided that an early start was in order, especially as we had a 70+ mile ride today. Planning that, we went to sleep early and woke up at 4:30 a.m. This was perfect, since the restaurant across the road from the motel opened at 5:00. We enjoyed a good breakfast (except for the tepid tea - Bob) and were on the road, or should I say, trail by 6:00 a.m. The Katy Trail officially begins (or ends)about a mile from our motel. We found it easily and were treated to miles of riding without traffic. The first hour or two were very quiet, broken only by the occasional rabbit crossing our path. They seem to be ubiquitous here, having apparently found a climate or terrain in which they can thrive. We tried to take a few pictures but found the camera lens fogging, since low heat and humidity are relative things. It was about 80 degrees at 5:00 a.m. and went up from there. We made our first convenience store stop after about an hour and a half, and then stopped at 9:15 at a little cafe, where we had sandwiches. Since the Katy Trail Ride, which consists of about 300 riders, is a day ahead of us, everyone we've met knows the drill: bring cold drinks first, talk food later. One of the things that has struck us the whole time is how many people we've met from back home. Almost everywhere along the way we've encountered people who either have family in the Pittsburgh area or are originally from there. (We are actually counting the waitress from Sandusky, OH; close enough.) At the cafe today, a woman who was outside buying a newspaper was from Beaver Falls. Inside, a woman at a nearby table said that she and her husband lived in McKeesport for three years. One "problem" we've had is that people are so curious and friendly that we often have trouble actually eating during the conversations. They are fairly used to cyclists coming through, since the Katy Trail has been here for a while. It stretches for 250 miles from St. Charles, near St. Louis, to Clinton. The usual feat is for people to ride the whole trail, much the same as will be happening once the trail is complete from D.C. to Pittsburgh. But when we add that we are continuing to Pennsylvania, that seems impressive. Yesterday we met a westbound TransAm rider, Scott, who was riding from Virginia to the west coast alone. He had veered off the usual route to spend some time with relatives in Missouri. We tried to fill him in on what is ahead, since we just did his next section on our trip last year. It's always fun to scroll through our memory banks and recommend places to stay or to tell someone about a particularly good library we encountered. We have had very good luck with the motel plan; prices have been uniformly reasonable, and we've encountered some really hospitable "innkeepers." Yesterday, the woman who owned the Best Western in Clinton told us about her relative who owns a motel in South Dakota, a huge contrast from their former home in India. She said that his motel only operates about 4 months of the year, and normally he takes his family back to India for an extended visit. Last year, they decided to remain in South Dakota throughout the winter. She and her husband moved to Clinton from Seattle, and while she said she does enjoy the quieter life there, South Dakota in the off-season does not appeal to her any more than it did to us! At the moment, we are in the lobby of a Comfort Inn here in Boonville. Since the motel is in an industrial area, the only "dining" options are Arby's and Wendy's. However, there is a shuttle from the hotel to the Isle of Capri Casino every hour. It goes into town (which is a couple of miles downhill from here, hence the shuttle). We are planning to take the shuttle and either eat at one of the Casino's three restaurants or walk to another place in town. Little did I think we'd ever be visiting a casino on a bike trip. Tomorrow will be a shorter day, about about 62 miles to Jefferson City. Advantanges to the trail: shade!!!, no traffic, no worrying about taking a wrong turn. Disadvantage: trail grit. Our bike got dirty for the first time today. Fortunately, the motel has an outdoor hose and is used to cyclists asking to hose off their bikes before bringing them indoors.