We finished the ride yesterday. It was a quick, but casual, 30 miler to New Franklin, MO. The ride took us through Blackwater, MO a small town with lots of antique stores and rustic buildings.
We made it to New Franklin passing over the Missouri River, and the official beginning of the Santa Fe Trail. Of course the start point is in controversy as Boonville, MO which is on the other side of the Missouri River also claims to be the official start of the trail.
Seems that in order to start their trek, the pioneers would have to take a ferry from New Franklin to Boonville and then re-load their wagons and supplies to "resume" the journey. So Boonville claims that their town is therefore the real start of the ride.
But the monument for the start of the Trail is in New Franklin and for me that is enough for them to claim true ownership of the "start of the trail". So our last official act is to photo op ourselves in front of the monument.
That is Kyle my new bud from MO..
The 22nd Santa Fe Bike Trek is now in the history books. Not as long as the Ride Across America last year, but the daily rides were sometimes as grueling. The wind and weather made the Trek a little harder than I had imagined. But the ride was great, the people I met were fantastic and the staff superb.
This was advertised as a "Your on your own ride". But when we needed sag support or a rider had to be picked up the crew was there. While the camping was a little hard to take, the places we stayed exceeded my expectations. The food was perfect.
And the people in each of the towns we passed through went out of their way to welcome us and help us in times of need. All and all a great ride and once again America at its best.
Here are the final stats for the ride...
Distance: 1,081.90 miTime: 81:04:00 h:m:sAvg Speed: 13.3 mphCalories: 59,547 C
Bike is packed and ready for shipment home...
1 comment:
Wool hoooo!!!!!! Congratulations on another tremendous achievement! You look like you are at prime fitness state and ready for the big dumps at squaw! (Rated 25 with exoectations of a big winter--no snorkel gear required this year!). Well done and, as always thanks for the rather fascinating history lesson!).
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