Day 23 – Monday – 6/20/22

Winton, Missouri to Marshall, Missouri – 73.7 Miles

Having taken somewhat of a break yesterday, I was ready to get going again. The early morning shadows suggest there’s plenty of time to get things done.

The Katy Trail is dirt mixed with crushed gravel. The downside of that is you and your bike will pick up a coating of dust during the ride. There’s also a constant noise as the tires roll over rocks and sand. It’s not quiet, but it can be peaceful.

These informational shelters are at trailhead points along the Katy. McBaine, population 10, is the site of a wastewater treatment plant. Believe it or not.

Along the way was a cave that Lewis and Clark visited. It’s a refuge for bats and off-limits to people.

The Missouri River has eroded the bluffs along it over millions of years. At points along the trail, they suggest you move through quickly due to dangers from falling rock.

Because the trail is the site of a former railroad, a tunnel was necessary at one point. It’s still in use today,

New Franklin was a little livelier than McBaine. Plus, they had their own caboose.

As I left the Katy Trail and was about to cross the Missouri River to the south, I met Wayne. He’s a former soldier from the 82 Airborne, who served in Vietnam. He’s on his way to Washington D.C. to visit his friend in Arlington National Cemetery. Before I could ask him about his journey, he asked me where I was heading. When I told him Seattle, he came up and shook my hand. He’d been on the road 70 days from Oregon, was pulling a trailer with a dog and still had a long way to go but was happily crossing America at his own speed. I was honored to meet him and admire his spirit and dedication to the memory of his comrades. Safe travels, Wayne!

Boonville is on the south side of the Missouri and has a little over 8,000 residents. At one time shoes were made there. The former factory was repurposed into apartments but has since closed.

Part of the route I followed out of Boonville was the Missouri end of the Santa Fe Trail. This was news to me, but Missouri was the gateway to much of the West, even after Lewis and Clark.

I arrived in Marshall around 5. Because it was a holiday, things were quiet, but the downtown was well laid out and attractive.

I finished up the day at Applebee’s, because all the other restaurants of choice were about 1.5 miles away. Ishmael was parked for the night, and I didn’t feel like walking 3 miles for dinner. With Applebee’s across the street, it was an easy decision.

The mission now is to get around Kansas City in the next three days. The distance between towns and services is going to make it difficult to plan consistent riding days, but there are possibilities. I’ll let you know what I came up with tomorrow!