A better yodeling contest

Sunset at Easley

Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Hey, it isn't even completely dark yet!

Provisions on the eastern half of the trail are scarce, and on Sunday I had to stop somewhere, anywhere, to eat. A ways past the small town of Steedman is an even smaller town, whose name escaped my records, but in which there was supposed to be a "Bar and Restaurant". In many of these small towns the only visible sign of life - or food, that is - are bars accessible just of the trail. Anyway, this one was closed, and for sale. I found a grocery store that sold me a deli sandwich consisting of a random assortment of ingredients smashed between two slices of bread.

Well, I ate that up in a hurry and bought my own loaf of bread, as well as peanut butter, and jelly which came in a real gas jar! From then on, I would always have something to eat, even if it was just a fingerfull of jelly.

I arrived at Easley just before dark. This campground seems like it could be a fun place on the right night, and in fact when I got there a local band was playing down by the water. I decided to go down and watch after I secured some food and a place to stay the night - but in those few minutes they had left.

I set up my tent somewhere in the middle of the site, and discovered that the headlights from cars on 94 were aimed directly at me! Fortunately traffic stopped before too late, but unfortunately, on this night the ragweed began its efforts in earnest to ensure a future crop, never minding that most of its pollen would make its way into my extremely infertile nose, and serve no greater purpose than to keep me up all night.

Summary of the second day's ride:

• Sunday, August 29
• Ride: 12:00-8:00
• Cycling time: 4:48:13
• Bluffton (~111) to Easley (~163)
• Sign distance: 52 mi
• Computer distance: 54.43 mi
• Average speed: 11.3 mph
• Max speed: 15.4 mph (wow, that is slow!)
• Odometer: 2034.8 mi

Bicycle and (small) turtle

Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Someday when I'm famous for kicking off the genre of "low-quality photos of turtles with bikes laid on their side in the background", just remember you saw it here first! This little guy (probably an eastern box) sure is cuter than the common snapper.

Looking out from Grand Bluffs.

Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Here's another picture taken at Grand Bluffs.

When I got back to my ride, I met a man who just pulled into the gravel parking lot in his red convertible. He seemed to be retracing the trail of Lewis and Clark, by car, instead of by bike, in honor of the bicentennial of their epic journey. I told him there was a sig at the end of the trail by a scenic overlook, but I think he decided it wasn't worth the hike. I don't understand the adventure he was on, but I hope he enjoyed it.

Grand Bluffs Conservation Area overlook

Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

OK! Time to return to the tales of yesteryear…

Saturday night as I arrived at the campsite in the dark, there was a kind of kitchen in a 3-wall structure where one could purchase snacks and drinks on the honor system. I had a ton of snacks, paid for them, and pushed my bike up the hill to find a campsite. I didn't see anybody around, but the noise from the road made me expect to see carloads of people pull in at any time and disturb my peace. As it was, no one else showed up.

I slept late into Sunday morning, and did not get going until almost noon. A mile or less from the campsite there was a sign for the "Grand Bluffs Conservation Area", advertised as less than a mile up a gravel road. I decided to do some sightseeing and check it out.

The conservation area is primarily wooded. There was a trail out to a scenic outlook, which I arrived at just as a truck was leaving. I grabbed a walking stick and set out on a journey along the trail to where no man had been before!

The journal that I kept only says of the trail that it was "steep", which is probably true. Actually, when I started this series on my 2004 trip I had considered copying entries from my journal, but the tone of the text complains far too often. No great literary work was to come out of this trip. Anyway, I suppose on a bike trip like this at the time I took it, it was hot, I was hungry, my legs hurt, and my nose was plagued by allergies. Of course, a year later these things aren't bothering me.

Anyway, the footpath went up and down some hills until arriving at the scenic overlook. Well, wouldn't you know that Lewis and Clark had already been there, and erected a sign about how they looked out over the Missouri to map the river.

The river's moved since then, and the valley is now mostly farms and highways. I grabbed a couple pictures and started on my way back.

Camp site just after setting up Saturday night
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

Here's the camp site I set up that night in the dark! I was pretty tired at that point, but my bicycle still looks pretty new and shiny.

Summary of first day's ride:

• Saturday, August 28
• Ride 1:15-9:15
• Elapsed time: 8:00
• Cycling time: 6:23:24
• Ride: St. Charles (~40) to Bluffton (~111)
• Signed distance: 71 mi
• Computer distance: 72.98 mi
• Avg speed: 11.4 mph
• Max speed: 24.0 mph down first hill to Katy Trail
• Odometer: 1980.4

The trail is dark
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

It got dark in a hurry. This section of the trail was pretty rough, with several large branches down over the path. It was obviously not safe on the trail, so I rode a few miles down on 94, which is adjacent on this stretch. It was much brighter and safer. As I recall, I was lucky and took the last connecting road back to the trail before the campground.

Here's facing east, a gorgeous view. The next place on the trail to stay is in Bluffton, about 18 miles away, and that sun is starting to look pretty low for a loaded bicycle tourist. Could I make it before dark?

Katy Trail mile 93, looking east
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

I stopped at this scenic outlook over the Missouri river to finish my sandwich. Here I'm looking back east, and maybe you can tell from the sky why I was so worried about rain. I shouldn't have been, though, because in the end I didn't get a single drop all trip.

2004_08_28_0007_muddy
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

A few miles later, it was extremely muddy and I fell, so of course I took a photo. Notice the rain covers on my panniers - I was still expecting it to rain. I had to walk my bike through the slough, since there was no way to get started.

2004_08_28_0004_branches
Originally uploaded by Kevin Saff.

I kept a number of receipts from my trip, which should aid my memory. Well, this one is from my first meal stop, Dutzow Deli at 3:36 PM on Saturday. That's about 35 miles down the road from where I started around 1:30, so I was making about 17mph loaded - not too shabby on pug.

I went inside wearing rain clothes, because I was paranoid that it was going to rain, but also it seemed kind of busy and I didn't want to look too "silly" in bike clothes. Well, bike rain clothes probably look just as silly, especially when it doesn't rain. I don't remember what I got, but it came to $10.33. There's also a tip line on this receipt, which has bothered me every time I've eaten there, because you pay before you eat, and there isn't really table service. I left the line blank on this receipt, but usually I try to pay in cash so I don't see that line at all.

The deli's food gives a decent amount of energy, tastes okay, and of course they have energy drinks because they're sitting right on the trail. Yet, I've never felt completely comfortable there - maybe they don't get riders from St. Charles very often.

Oh, this photo are some branches strewn across the trail just beyond the deli. They forced me to stop, and well, one normally doesn't take pictures except when stopped.