Crusty Cassette

Saturday, June 07, 2003 posted by Steve Largent at 7:18 PM

On 29 May we rode across the "Chain of Rocks Bridge" an old bridge across the Mississippi which is opened only to cyclists and pedestrians and which took us prematurely into MO. You think Idaho has the only truly illogical bike lane access? Well, the first step of the Chain of Rocks Bridge crosses to an island which is a popular destination for BIG dump trucks which buzz across this small section of bridge regularly. Crazy, the first section is scary to ride, then 90% of the bridge is open only to cyclists and pedestrians! On the Illinois side is a main bike lane up and down the river. On the Missouri side we met a junior high school cycling club from St. Louis. Great to see teachers and supporters out with 15 or more kids teaching them the joys of cycling. The school bought the cycles, and it?s treated as any athletic club. The 29th was a school day, and the kids were enjoying cycling during the mid afternoon. They shared their PowerAid and snacks with us and showed us something neat a school could do to get inner city kids out on bicycles. It did seem weird the school bought mountain bikes, but the kids were forbidden to ride them as such- being scolded for ?jumping? over a small burm nearby.

Hardy, who had read Chris' ad for companions in Adventure Cycling?s magazine had invited us to spend a night with him near St. Louis. Well, we were running a day ahead of schedule. Chris' son, Drew was planning to join us in St. Louis, so we basically asked to stay another twp nights! What?s the saying about fish, company, and smells? Hardy & Kathy were excellent hosts! Hardy had cycling friends over and a BBQ in our honor the first night. He picked Chris and me up at the Chain of Rocks Bridge. His secretary met David and brought him to their home, thus reuniting the 3 L-C Travelers! We took the next day off, getting to bike shops, visiting the a Lewis-Clark visitor?s center, trying to get my camera's light meter fixed (impossible- but after buying an external light meter, the internal meter spontaneously started working again! Maybe all that rain had wetted the inside of my camera?) We had the use of Hardy's vehicle that day. I then realized the plan in effect would have us skip 61 miles of the L-C route, so the next day I rode from Chain of Rocks Bridge to St. Charles, MO while Chris and David extended their layover day into two days. Hard rains fell throughout the morning from shortly after the Chain of Rocks Bridge dampening my curiosity about some of the sights Hardy had suggested I would enjoy. Then the sun came out for the ferry ride across the Illinois River, the beautiful peninsula between there and the Missouri, and the ferry ride across the Missouri. David and Hardy arrived within minutes of my arrival at the bike shop in St. Charles. Drew, Chris? son, arrived that night for a pizza feed and for the ride across Missouri.

Harley shuttled us to St. Charles (requiring two trips) the next morning where we rejoined the Lewis-Clark Route. What great hosts he and Kathy were to 4 unknown cyclists! He plans to ride the Lewis-Clark route next year, and I hope to be able to return part of the favor as he passes through Lewiston. The first day back on the road we made it to Hermann, MO, a beautiful old French town worthy of the hour's after dinner walk through its old sections. Most of the ride across this state is on the Katy Trail, a rails to trail project that is very popular with Missourians.

National Guard to the forefront! Part of the planning of the trip involved arranging drills in Missouri and Montana. In Jefferson City, we met Missouri's Sergeant-Major, SGM Green. The Guard wanted to interview us about the trip and take a few photos and had offered to house us on base. Some Snafu befell us, we were without cell service, couldn't get hold of anyone from the occasional pay phones and cycled across the 6 lane no bike lane/sidewalk bridge into Jefferson City. Drew, a 29 year old ex-marine, whose training plan had been "ride when there's extra time" was getting worn out. We had a late lunch, and finally got hold of a security guard on base who recommended we cycle out to the base. That was a mistake. As much as we didn't like the bridge into Jefferson City, Hwy 50 out of Jefferson City was worse! A four lane divided highway without shoulders (a Missouri oddity but common here). Up the second steep hill Drew and Chris were pushing! David and I decided to wait, and up drives SGM Green! Seems we were supposed to have stayed on the other side of the bridge and been picked up there with our bikes securely stored over there. Somehow on this Sunday, no motorpool pickup was available to the state?s senior enlisted man! The SGM didn't want us on that highway where we also didn't want to be! He very graciously put us up in a motel! We enjoyed dinner and breakfast together and met with the PAO.

David has forefathers buried just outside of Jefferson City on AC's optional Jefferson City Route. One of his goals for the trip was to cycle by there, and Monday was forecast to have "soaking rains". That meant no let up between 10:00 a.m. and sometime during the next night. Anyway, David suggested we take Monday off and then cycle out Tuesday with its much better forecast. Drew had to get back to work, so they rode on Monday up the Katy Trail. David and I met another friendly local who learned of our cycle trip and suggested we see her sister in the capitol for a lengthy tour of the capitol building. We got to go up, up, up to the outside of the dome with a great view of Jefferson City on a private tour. The forecasted rains started, and we ended up in a Presbyterian Church most of that rainy day and night! We entertained the Vacation Bible School students briefly the next morning by riding into their meeting on our loaded touring bikes crying out about finding "the lighthouse" which is the theme of this year?s Vacation Bible School. David's plan worked beautifully, no rain the rest of the week except Thursday night. Rolling green hills through most of the state after we left Jefferson City.

Well, lest you think Missouri or David?s ideas are perfect, he suggested we deviate from AC's route slightly cutting off 10 miles and going through Excelsior Springs, the arm pit of Missouri in my opinion. The trip has been characterized by courteous drivers on quiet back roads and trails. In Excelsior Springs, we were run off the road by two dump trucks traveling in tandem, and I was run off the road a few minutes later by another. David was lucky enough to be on a small paved section of shoulder when the second incident occurred. Every other car rev'd its engine at us; horn honking and gestures were not uncommon. Weird! Within 10 miles of leaving that place, courteous motorists regained control of the highways.

I was well treated by the staff at the Independence MO Armory as we were by SGM Green. Saturday morning was the pre-drill meeting of NCOs where I was welcomed. Then off to formation where I stood behind the formation as a guest. Several junior guys were dismissed from formation and told to get in the uniform of the day. They haven't all been to boot camp yet, but managed to approach me properly asking for help in rolling up the sleeves (the Army way which is particual and different than the Navy & Marine way), so I felt welcomed by all! I helped score the annual physical fitness tests. Sunday is another day of drill and Monday, we'll be back on the road again! Missouri- minus Excelsior Springs- has been a great experience!

Happy Cycling for Fun, Fitness, and Transpiration!

Thursday, May 29, 2003 posted by Steve Largent at 5:05 PM

As pleasant as the back roads of Ohio were, Indiana was better. The state has a reputation for being flat, but the route Chris chose for us was anything but flat. Although the general terrain is as flat as expected, our route took us from "spine" to spine". The spines are something akin to small mountains, maybe 500 feet higher than the rest of the ground, the tops are very narrow (the roads generally cover the entire "top" and the steep sides start at the road's edge). We'd ride the spine for a mile or two, drop down, across another flat area, and then climb another spine. The grades getting up the spines are STEEP! Anyway, we crossed Indiana entirely on county roads, and we were able to find camp sites regularly often by scenic lakes and county parks. In Brownstown, Chris was so tired he didn't want to ride 3 miles out of town to a campsite, but convinced the Fairgrounds to let us stay there. That forced a shower in the cold hose of which there have been several, but no nights without a shower so far! In Batesville, Indiana the mayor found out we were coming from the nearby Bedford Chamber of Commerce. On this rainy day she arranged with the Salvation Army for us to use their gym, showers, and sleep on the wrestling mats. They major was extremely gracious, taking us out for dinner, and even taking our cycling clothes to her home where she washed them for us. She called the local radio station which interviewed us.

A thief in Washington, Indiana stole my sunglasses (yellow lenses only as it was a rainy day) and mirror! Fortunately, he left everything else! We were just in a restaurant, but it was a good lesson to keep my stuff either locked or with me. I suppose it is a cheap lesson.

Illinois offered some great county roads too, and they were finally on a grid so I know which direction I'm headed without studying the maps! Ohio, builds its roads at any angle, even a 16th of a direction, I believe, and traveling all four directions of the compass every day and traveling all those quarter or less directions, I was beginning to think the sense of direction had died. Indiana's roads, outside of the spines, may be on a grid, but our direction was always toward the next spine! Wednesday (28 May) was the first real head winds we’ve had. We were glad to reach an occasional hill as it would provide some wind protection and allow us to get our speed up above 10 MPH, and the head winds never allowed anything above 9.

David Rejoins the group! After traveling on his own for a few days speeding down U.S. Hwy 50 with few stops, David called to let us know he’d like to rejoin the group. His departure amounted to little more than a side trip. Today (29 May) was a layover day in St. Louis and we are enjoying being back together, but I’ll save stories of how we spent the day for the MO section of the story!

Having a great time and hoping the head winds go away as we move west where a westerly wind is normal!

Happy Cycling for Fun, Fitness, and Transportation!

Friday, May 23, 2003 posted by Steve Largent at 10:32 AM

David suggested the library stop yesterday but was concerned how much time Chris took there updating the web site. David's one whose principal enjoyment from touring seems to come from getting up early and arriving early. Chris is slow in the morning and probably not a great time manager anytime. However, the route he chose, while it needed more work on distances between possible towns, camping sites, and some work on layover days, is excellent. Yesterday, while sitting in the middle of a road shooting a shot of Chris coming across a one-lane bridge, a car irriated me by driving up! That gives you some idea how isolated and enjoyable the ride is. Anyway, after the internet stop yesterday David hoped on a main state highway and got in early to a motel about 15 miles short of the designated meeting place. Chris and I plodded on; no day have we missed travelling all four directions of the compass. We got into town about 7:00 p.m., ate dinner, and cycled out to the fair grounds where we spent the night on a beautiful lawn. David rode down for breakfast and let us know he was putting in a century today and riding the main highways on to Astoria, so we separated. I'll miss riding with him and his extremely creative ways at finding places to stay.

Today's ride was over a "mountain" if 500 ft of climb and then down a narrow spine qualifies as a mountain. Some of the roads we've been on are about 12" wide! Great views and I really enjoy the country-side