Katy Trail Day 3

This trip has had a number of firsts for me - first time on a bike tour, personal record in mileage, first time staying in a bed & breakfast, first time riding a bike in the rain. Today we missed the rain by 15 minutes (yay) but I survived my first bike topple over (and my second one too). I think the first one was my fault as I just couldn't get uncoupled fast enough. The second occurred when we were riding up the driveway to the wonderful B&B we are staying at which unfortunately is extremely steep. We were spinning but the drive got slick and we lost traction. It reminded me of those old roadrunner cartoons when Wylie Coyote goes off the cliff and just suspends for a second before crashing. That pretty much describes what happened although no injuries were sustained. We have showered now and are feeling much better.

This part of the trail was not as exciting as the previous days. Not as many towns to go through and the ones we went through were rather depressing. No deer or rabbit sightings. We are up to 40 bikers. We are off now to Hermann for a steak dinner. I might just might have to have an alcoholic beverage tonight. Martha and Larry are still speaking to me (and each other) so all is good. We will leave McKittrick tomorrow and ride to Augusta (which might be our shortest day). Will keep you posted.

Katy Trail Day 2

Well, we started out in the rain, but it did stop shortly after we started. We rode into Boonville and decided to get off the trail and ride down Main Street (Larry had a hankering for a coke float). Right before we were about to give up and turn around, "eagle eye" Leslie spotted Carrie Lyn's Ice Cream Parlor. Fabulous place! Unfortunately the rain started back up so we rode into Rocheport in a pretty steady drizzle. Luckily it was a warm rain though so it wasn't too bad. Part of the trail is closed for repair so we did have to ride on Highway 40 for a while (only one truly nasty semi driver who decided it would be fun to see how close he could drive to us). We had lunch at Abigails (another wonderful stop) before heading onto our destination of Hartsburg.

Check out the ghost behind Martha

The rain stopped for the last few hours of our ride and we got to stretch our legs by walking to dinner at Big Muddy's Bar (can't get used to all the smoking inside eating establishments - must be a Missouri thing). We ended up riding about 53 miles today. So far, so good. We are up to 27 bike riders, 7 deer, 6 rabbits, multiple herds of cows, lots of dogs, something that looked like the Loch Ness Monster floating in the Missouri River (we decided it was probably a log), 2 eagles, and numerous little blue birds. Martha and I serenaded Larry for much of the ride (Larry would name an artist and we would have to come up with the song). Hopefully tomorrow we will move from the 70's to the 80's. We shall have to wait and see...

Katy Trail Day 1

Martha, Larry, and I started out from Clinton, MO at 9:10 a.m. for my first bike tour. After Shelby's graduation excitement (which will be blogged about when I return home), Martha decided a bike ride would take my mind off my youngest leaving the nest. We are riding the Katy Trail ending in St. Charles, MO.

We did 65 miles our first day (my PR by quite a lot). The weather was perfect, not too hot, and we saw 3 deer, 3 bunnies, a lot of cows and horses, 15 other riders, a number of walkers and their dogs, and some beautiful county. We stopped in Pilot Grove and quickly found our destination, the Pilot Grove B&B - great old house (which is for sale if anyone is interested). The house was built in 1886 and was originally a Methodist parsonage. The owner, Dolores, stopped by to welcome us but we had the whole house to ourselves.

I woke up to rain and thunderstorms this morning but Larry and Martha assure me that it will stop before we get to our next stop, Hartsburg. Dolores fixed us a fabulous breakfast and told us the history of Pilot Grove and this great house. Pictures will follow once I get on a real computer (the iPad is fun but not as easy to use as a word processor as a laptop).

Prom 2011

Shelby had a great time with Gerry and all of her friends at Prom at Union Station.  They went for a sushi dinner and then onto prom in a huge stretch limo.  They danced the night away and then went back to Hannah's house to watch movies.  Graduation is just a few weeks away...

The Limo

The group with driver

Gerry and Shelby

Lady Braves Softball

Cady and the Lady Braves are in the thick of the KCAC division race.  She has lots of people supporting her, but perhaps her No. 1 fan is Wrigley who makes it games whenever she can.

Okay, this picture is quite disturbing - Brenton is holding her up so I could get a good shot of her cute face.  Turns out it looks like she has Brenton's arms.

The last double header of the regular season is Tuesday - we are hoping for a sweep by Ottawa and for Friends to defeat Bethany.  Go Braves!!!

Busy Weekend

Saturday, Shelby took the ACT test and then had to rush home to change and get her percussion instruments to go to the Regional Solo and Ensemble Competition at Olathe South High School.  She was performing with the Concert Band Percussion Ensemble.  They did an awesome job and received a "1" rating so will perform the last Saturday in April in Emporia KS at the State Festival.

Sunday, Daddy and I went to Cady's softball games in Ottawa.  It was nonconference (Avila) but boy was it great.  When we got there Ottawa was behind 2-0 but they obviously were waiting to be brilliant until we arrived.  Cady had 2 hits at 3 at-bats but her last hit of the game was a fantastic inside the park home run (it was actually listed as a triple because the shortstop bobbled the ball; however, speedy Cady was already at home when that happened so I think they were crazy).  Ottawa won both games (Cady got to rest for the 2nd game).  The football player cheerleaders had painted their bodies for Saturday's game (Brenton was the L in Lady Braves).  Needless to say, they were all horribly sunburned and miserable Sunday as a result of not wearing sunscreen (they also had some very funny burn lines).

The 1st Annual Kansas Fire and EMS Barbecue Championship

Tim and Greg participated in the 1st Annual Kansas Fire and EMS Barbecue Championship last weekend in Salina, KS.  They didn't win but got 3rd in chicken and 4th overall and Tim made the online paper.  Read all about it at http://www.saljournal.com/news/story/bbq-championship-4211

Tim preparing to cut his brisket