Cycling

July 15, 2025

We wake up, have breakfast, and pack up to head to Starved Rock Campground in Oglesby, Illinois. This will be about a four hour drive.

I don’t know where this truck is headed but I’m not going there for coffee.

5:00 PM

Our route brings us into the town of Wenona, Illinois. I rode into this town on my double trans continental tour in 2022. While in the City Park getting ready to set up for the night two people drove through in a golf cart and stopped to visit. Alan invited me to follow him to his home two blocks away and spend the night. I graciously accepted his invitation. This began a friendship. Now three years later I find myself in the center of his town. I ask Nancy to pull over and park while I open my phone and call Alan. After the phone rings I hear “Hi, Russ”. After a short chat I say that I am in Wenona. Alan says I’ll be there in two minutes. Nancy and I watch as he turns the corner and drives to us. We visit and make plans to meet up at our campsite in a few days.

July 17, 2025

At the campground.

Hiking along the Illinois River.

After hiking we head back to the campground. Alan will be coming to meet up with us soon. After we shower we visit and Alan takes us for a tour of Utica, Buffalo Rock, then to Ottawa for pizza at Bianchi’s Word Famous Pizza. This place lives up to its name! Than we tour the city and more sites along the way to our campsite. The visit continues until dark.

Tomorrow is another day.

The moon last night over the lake.

After breakfast we decided to spend the morning hiking some of the park trails. The weather prediction was for heavy rain with lightning strikes this afternoon. It is now about 10:00, breakfast is done and I am finishing the last sips of coffee. Nancy is anxious to start so I begin a hasty exit from my chair.

Moe, with his eager excitement, leaps into his comfy spot and off we drive to the trail head. We choose a trail that goes out to an old graveyard.

We begin the hike in the direction of the lake. We pass many interesting sights before we find ourselves at a small sandy beach at the edge of a small cove

Nancy and Moe wander into the water to cool off. I stay behind dry on the shore and capture the scene.

Everyone is now on dry land so off we go to finish the hike. I didn’t mention yet that Moe has been hiking with us off leash. Against the rules but he so much enjoys the freedom of racing ahead to turn and race back to see why we are not keeping up with him.

As we walk along the trail we head toward a bluff where the trail takes a sharp bend to the right. Moe had stopped to sniff and runs full speed to pass and get ahead again. In his playful sprint he didn’t turn with the trail. He ran full speed over the edge! We rush to the edge, the drop looks about sixty feet to the water below. We don’t see Moe. Panic begins with frantic calls to Moe. We look over the edge to see a frightened Moe on a narrow ridge. Brush had stopped his fall. He was maybe eight feet below us shaken but not hurt. We keep talking to him. We can’t get to him from the edge. We look around to the side to see if there is a less steep way down to him. As we make our way to him he is making his way to us. Nancy grabs him and lifts Moe to the top.

Back to the car we go. This is just another episode of the life of Moe. Back at the campsite we have lunch listening to the thunder booming toward us. We pack everything away and head into the camper as rain splatters on the roof. Moe, he is exhausted and sleeping on the bed. We are wondering what kind of surprises Moe is dreaming up while looking so calm and peaceful.

July 12, 2025

9:26 AM 

Waking up to a breakfast of eggs, toast, bacon, and espresso was a wonderful treat. Richard and Talulah, the Warmshowers Host, offered to host me at last minute notice. I was heading into Saint Charles without a place to sleep. Fed and rested, but most enjoyably, I was wearing clean clothes.  Saying goodbyes and thanking the gracious hosts I am heading back to the trail two miles away.

10:20 AM 

Downtown Saint Charles.

11:29 AM 

I made it to Machens, the eastern end of the Katy Trail.

12:07 PM 

Back at Black Walnut Trailhead waiting for Nancy to pick me up.

12:30 PM

Portage Des Sioux

1:57  PM

Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton, Illinois was a treat beyond expectations. Excellent beer and great food for lunch and Moe was welcomed inside to join us while we dined. Moe was served a large bowl of cold water, he was very thirsty as were we. Moe enjoyed tasty dog treats made by the brewery while we enjoyed our meal.

3:41 PM 

Cahokia mounds, built by the Osage 1100 AD. Twenty thousand people lived in this village.

7:00 PM

We finally arrive at Nancy’s campsite in Eldon Hazlet State Park in Carlyle, Illinois.

July 11, 2025

5:52 AM 

Moon in the morning.

8:14 AM 

I’m leaving Marthasville after a nice stay under the park pavilion. Matt and his two daughters, the family I met yesterday, stayed in the same campground with me last night. We all planned to camp at the KY Caboose campsite behind the restaurant. It was closed so I went to the City Park a mile away. I thought maybe they would be coming here also. 

9:14 AM 

My breakfast plan, ride to the next town, Dutzow, and have a real sit down meal. Matt and his family had finished breakfast and on their bikes to ride up the trail. It was nice seeing them, they also stayed in Marthasville at the Bike Hostel.

My breakfast was an omelet with OJ and coffee. Now I’m  leaving the Dutzow Deli and  Restaurant hoping to see the Dooley family again.

When I came upon them on the Trail we visited and exchanged contact info.

2:14 PM

Greens Bottom Depot, the last stop before downtown St. Charles, I stopped to find a place to sleep and Matt came by alone without the loaded trailer. He stopped when he saw me and we had our last visit on this tour. His wife picked up the girls and he was riding to their hotel.

Every hotel in St. Charles was booked, the Kayak Race brought a thousand people into the city. The Race finish is being held at the Lewis and Clark Museum Landing. I had hoped to go to the festivity. However, my luck turned, a Warmshowers host accepted my request, I have a place to sleep tonight. I am too far to get the the party.

3:35 PM 

I got to my Warmshowers at 2:30. I am showered and rehydrated. My pile of slimy clothes will be washed and dried. Tomorrow I will start the last twenty-two miles to Machens fresh and clean.

July 9, 2025

9:31 PM

I packed up the tent wet with dew. I was not in a hurry because Marthasville is thirty-eight miles away. Before leaving I got to visit with the crew of two race teams as the crew attempted getting some rest. See this was close to home from my ultra racing days.

12:29 PM 

When the Missouri River was close to the trail I saw kayaks closing in on the finish at the Lewis and Clark Museum Landing in St Charles.

Trees or branches were down across the trail in three different places along the trail.

2:30 PM

It was a hot push to get to Marthasville. Many of the miles were out in the open so no shade. I had hoped to camp at the KY Caboose, a small train car diner, right on the trail as you enter the town. It is Thursday, the day they are closed.

I continued to the Depot where the City Ball Park has accommodations for cyclists on the Katy Trail to camp. Now under the pavilion out of the sun enjoying the breeze blowing through. The shower and bathrooms are open twenty-four hours a day.  Tonight at the ball fields are two play-off tournaments tonight so the concession is open with food and drink. It will be noisy until 8:30 tonight.

July 9, 2025

The sunset last night from my campsite.

6:02 AM 

The leader of the kayak racers just pulled in for some supplies. Salli O’Donnell leads the race. Fifteen minutes after she left the second can through, I don’t remember his name.

9:09 AM 

A breakfast burrito from the camp store while visiting and watching the race and I’m ready to go.

11:41 AM 

I can see the dome in Jefferson City up ahead on the right.

11:58 AM 

North Jefferson City.

3:10 PM 

The second tree down across the road

3:32 PM 

The third tree down

4:00 PM

I’ve decided to stay in Portland at the Riverside Campground. The Dooly family is also staying here for the night. A father and two young daughters are riding the Trail to St George. This campground is small, shaded, and has a clean bathroom with a shower. The only other thing in town is a small bar/cafe. The food is good and right next to the campground.

8:12 PM

I am now ready for bed.

July 8, 2025

11:53 AM 

I started a few minutes ago in Boonville. Nancy dropped me off on the Katy Trail at the Missouri River.

1:22 PM 

Coming into Rocheport

Hindman Junction

4:28 PM 

I’m at Cooper’s Landing. It’s a nice little campground. There is nothing for another twenty mikes. This place is great, I am sleeping in a glamper tent right on the Missouri River. It is Taco Tuesday and the food is yummy. It rained about an hour, light and cool with thunder in the distance. The rain ended before arriving and it’s a bit cooler than when I was riding. I have wifi, catching up on the blog.

July 5, 2025

10:27 AM 

Getting ready to leave pilot Grove was slow and relaxed. I have a twenty-four mile ride and Nancy won’t get there won’t get there before 3:00 this afternoon, that is the check in time for this campground.

10:35 AM

The Pilot Grove Depot

11:49 AM 

A little saddle repair

11:58 AM 

I’m now in Prairie Lick. I sit at a shaded bench beside the trail. I have some time to kill and I now have full 5G cell service. I check emails, the weather for the upcoming week, and try to load the last two days onto my blog. Apparently WordPress is down, I can’t get photos to load.  Since Sedalia cell service has been poor at best. I can finally open Google to route me to the campground. I rode past the road that takes me there.

So, I back track the three miles and head to Arrow Rock on rolling narrow shouldered roads in the heat of the day with no shade from the relentless summer sun.

3:00 PM

Nancy and Moe, excitedly barking out the passenger window, passed me one mile from the road into the campground. I arrive hot and sweat drenched looking for shade. None to be found.

July 4, 2025

8:41 AM 

Leaving the campground to get back on route is easy, I’m .2 of a mile from the trail. 

9:12 AM 

Sedalia Depot.

9:57 AM 

I am in Beaman, not much from what I see. Just a road to cross and fields. A woman riding a lightly loaded bike rode by saying, “Enjoy your ride”.

11:00 AM 

This trail goes behind the church where Nancy and I stopped for Moe to walk around and relieve himself on our way to Harry S. Truman State Park. As I rode up to the Clifton City Depot the woman that just passed me was there. I stopped for a photo of the depot and a bite to eat. She was also getting ready to eat.  We began talking about touring, Emily is riding the trail from Clinton up to Machens. She lives in Colorado and is here visiting family. She lives an interesting life which made this chance meeting interesting. These moments add meaning to a tour.

12:45 PM

I just arrived at Pilot Grove City Park. I am relaxing only a few hundred feet from the Trail. I have called to register my stay with the Police Department. I can set up under the pavilion in the shade. There is a nice breeze, tonight I hope to sleep in comfort.

3:30 PM

The park has a pool that is being well used today. I went over and asked if I could take a shower. I was told that cyclists staying here can use the shower but the pool would be closing at 4:00 today. I was also told that it only has cold water. After the initial shock of the cold against my hot skin, this felt so good. I didn’t hurry and left refreshed.

July 3, 2025

8:13 AM 

Coffee and PopTarts at the community center with a nice visit with some local people, I’m now ready to go. I plan to stop in a town to get something better for breakfast.

8:19 AM 

At the start of the Katy trail.

10:31 AM 

Now I’m in Windsor. I just ate yogurt with a bottle of gatorade. I’m back riding towards Sedalia.

1:07 PM 

I’m at the State Fairground Campground in Sedalia Missouri. This is where I’ll spend the night.

3:10 PM

I ordered a pizza with salad delivery. I’m hungry and hoping it will be here soon. The food was very good. It’s a luxury to sit in a campground and have dinner delivered.

I’m in the shade and it’s hot, 92° at 4:43 PM. There is a nice breeze, I hope it cools when the sun goes down.