Day 26 – Thursday 6/23/22

Basswood Resort, Missouri to Achison, Kansas – 32.2 Miles

After a lot of miles, hills and heat, I rode out of Missouri at about 2:05 this afternoon. While I was making overall progress each day, nothing beats crossing a state line to make you think you’re going somewhere.

The weather forecast was for rain from around 11 to 3, so I factored that into my plans. A first thought was to attempt an 85-mile ride to Falls City, Nebraska, but the rain and effect of the elevation challenges from yesterday’s route made me set my sights a little lower. Achison, Kansas was just over 30 miles out and not in Missouri. That was good enough for me.

The early going was hilly and with little traffic. I was heading for Platte City, just a few miles away, but there was some nice scenery before that.

Platte City is a typical town for the region. Near a park they have an anchor from the Navy Oiler U.S.S. Platte, of which there were three throughout history.

The mighty Platte River runs nearby.

The wildflowers continued.

The town of Weston was midway along the route, and the scenery in that direction was improving.

This stack of barrels alongside the road was evidence that moonshiners were in business nearby. They grow corn in Missouri, plus other grains, so Holladay Distillery has been making bourbon since 1856.

When I arrived in the town of Weston, I was surprised by the level of activity. Most smaller towns don’t have much going on, but Weston was crowded and thriving. Apparently, it’s a destination for restaurants, antiques and Get-Aways. I looked around for about a half-hour and put it on the list for a return visit.

I ate lunch in town, then started riding towards Achison, 17 miles away. There was a light rain falling, but the road had a wide shoulder, so it was safe. The only issue was passing semi-trucks would blow a spray of mist at me as they went by. I got used to it. Finally, I saw signs of change.

This was my first state border since I crossed into Missouri 12 days ago. The joy is clearly visible on my face.

Missouri on the right and Kansas on the left.

Ishamel on the bridge.

Bridge bolt pattern.

I found the hotel quickly, checked in and dried out. Achison is a farming and railroad center and is also the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. The song “On the Achison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” gave the town some fame when it came out in 1944.

Fine dining is available at the Dairy Queen visible from my window., but I chose a Chinese buffet because more is better when you’re on a bicycle every day.

There’s a forecast for some rain tomorrow, but I’m not sure how or if that will impact travel plans. Within the next week it’s likely Nebraska and Iowa will be added to the list of state borders crossed. Looking forward to it!