I decided to risk the Steamboat Trace, despite knowing that it had been closed two years before due to the 2019 flood (a flood that’s name was invoked in every part of the trail since I reached the Mississippi). If an ATV could make it down it, as I was told, then I surely couldContinue reading “Risking the Steamboat Trace”
Category Archives: Month
Too Many Mosquito Bites to Count
One thing I can usually say about rain is that in the summer it usually drops the temperature afterwards, or at the very least the humidity. This was not the case when the rain finally stopped in Kansas. The next day was hot and sticky. The sun was out though. I could at least beContinue reading “Too Many Mosquito Bites to Count”
Missouri Loves Company
I checked into a hotel in Marshall, MO at about 9am and spent the day there, watching the weather. Most of the roads out of town were closed due to flooding. I was stuck for now. At least this meant I got a legitimate day of rest. I didn’t leave the hotel room except toContinue reading “Missouri Loves Company”
Rail Trails and River Floods
I followed a bike path north to Hartford along the top of a levee for miles and miles. It was still afternoon when I got to the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. The museum was closed, but there was a reproduction of the fort the men of the Corps of Discovery built for theContinue reading “Rail Trails and River Floods”
Raccoons and Ramparts
I spent the next day cruising south on much flatter roads, all the way to Fort Massac. It was Sunday, so the bike shop in Paducah was closed until Monday morning. I knew I wanted to hit fort Massac, and if I stayed in Paducah I’d have to back track to get to the bike shopContinue reading “Raccoons and Ramparts”
Back on the Road
Well, two of my best friends are now married! I spent about 10 days off the trail in Iowa City, running around, doing bridesmaid things, helping make things run smoothly as best I could. Honestly, I expected a bit more downtime to catch up on blogs than I actually got. I enjoyed the break, butContinue reading “Back on the Road”
The Rush to Iowa City
The next few days were a blur of speed for me. I needed to get to Evansville in time for a rental car reservation to get to my best friend’s wedding. Louisville has an extensive series of bike paths that go to the far stretches of the city, so I took those as far asContinue reading “The Rush to Iowa City”
A Break in Louisville
Alright, now where was I? I left off in Carollton, KY, desperate to get back to Indiana, away from unleashed dogs and the hills. Oh God the hills!I’d spent all this time, nearly two weeks now, struggling to keep up with my daily journal entries. I stopped at a coffee shop in Madison, Indiana toContinue reading “A Break in Louisville”
A Grave Week
I was at the Grave Creek Burial Mound shortly after it opened. This site was particularly important to me, not only because there was historical documentation that Meriwether Lewis had been in that exact spot in 1803. It was important because it got me asking questions and suddenly reminded me how strange it was thatContinue reading “A Grave Week”
Hospitality on the Road
My second day on the trail was spent battling hills and reassessing everything about my timeline for the next few weeks. While I planned on 50 miles a day, I had barely managed more than 30! I was worried that I was going to continue to fall behind schedule. I had to wait that morningContinue reading “Hospitality on the Road”
The Stars On the Horizon 