What's Fred Up To Now?: Day 7 - Saturday May 26; Tebbetts, Mo to New Franklin, Mo (60 miles)

It was looking like I was going to have the Turner Katy Trail Shelter all to myself last night. At 8:30 PM as the sun was beginning to set three cyclists came in; a father, son (Chris) and the son’s friend (Bradley). They are from Manhattan, KS and the boys just graduated from high school. The wife/mother dropped them off at the trailhead in Clinton, MO and they are riding to its east end in St. Charles, MO where mom is going to pick them up tonight (90+ miles in 90+ heat/humidity; they’ll need a lot of luck making it that far, but there is a lot of sunlight hours these days).

I got off to a 6:30 AM start hoping to get to New Franklin before the heat of the day – which I pretty much did as I arrived at just before 2:00 PM. The ride today was very nice; limestone bluffs to the right, Missouri River to the left and nearly all tree covered – very scenic. I met a couple named Dave? and Lauralee a couple of times yesterday afternoon. They stayed at a B&B in Hartsburg and were still there this morning when I rolled in. It was 9:00 AM and I was in search for a Diet Coke. I had the Coke and two pancakes at Dottie’s Café; a really neat little café where four older people were playing live bluegrass music. The oldest lady played guitar and sang really great. After breakfast I headed down the trail and shortly came upon a fully loaded backpacker with a small dog. He is walking 15 miles one way today then back tomorrow as training for hiking the Appalachian Trail starting next spring. A little later I came across a group of boys and three men, also walking. Two of the men had fully loaded backpacks and one was wearing a Texas A&M ball cap. We chatted for a good while. The Aggie graduated with the class of 1984 and I believe with an EE degree. We likely had a class or two together. The men were Boy Scout leaders from Kansas City out getting ready for a big hike they have coming up. When I arrived at McBain a man was asking questions about my ride. His name is Jim Johnson and he retired last year as a chemistry tech from Ameren’s Calloway nuclear plant. I asked if he knew John Dampf who I served with in the Navy from ’76 to ’78 or ’79 when we were both instructors at the S1W prototype in Idaho Falls, ID. He said he had heard the name and I think he called the control room while I was filling my water bottle. I believe he said John retired a year or so ago. I gave Jim one of my trip cards to follow along or give to John if he ever ran into him. Jim was a Navy NUC ELT and trained at A1W in 1977. I always enjoy meeting fellow ex Navy NUCs. Those were good times (looking back of course). A mile or so down the trail was the intersection with a spur that goes up to Columbia and where the Peddler's Jamboree ride stared this morning. The bike traffic (both ways) was very heavy. There must have been hundreds riding. I had made good time to that point and was not in a hurry so it was enjoyable enough. The only bad part was that a LOT! of dust was kicked up so I am coated head to toe in caked-on trail dust. The jaboree is a ride from the Huntsdale Jct. to Boonville; about 20 miles one way. There are bands at the trailhead towns along the way and a big bash in Boonville tonight. I’m told that they camp tonight in Boonville and ride back to the Huntsdale Jtn. tomorrow. From the looks of many of the riders I saw today, I’m guessing not that many actually ride back tomorrow. Many probably had someone waiting for them in Boonville to take them home at the end of today’s ride. The younger, fitter riders probably party all night and the ride back tomorrow in the expected heat will likely make for quite a challenging ride. Most everyone I saw were having a really good time – that’s terrific. I was told this is the fourth year for the jamboree. It looks like a hugh success.

I’m camping tonight in New Franklin, MO at the Katy Roundhouse campground. They have bands here too. The first one just finished and the second one started. The campground/shower house are a little removed from where the band is playing so it is just the right volume. Pretty good music too. All this for $6. When I arrived at the Katy Trail trailhead in New Franklin I asked those sitting in the shade if they knew where the Katy Roundhouse was located. A couple of them thought it was just a little further down the trail. To be sure, I rode about ½ mile north into New Franklin to ask someone who actually knew. The information I got from those at the trailhead was correct. The trip into town brought me to a Casey’s where I chugged a 44 oz Diet Coke and ate a caramel-iced donut – good stuff!! I’m sitting at my camp site picnic table listening to the live music. It is still hot, though there is a nice breeze. I’ll wait until later to take a shower as I’d just sit here and sweat if I took one now. It is only supposed to get down to about 70 tonight so it won’t likely be good sleeping weather. But - tomorrow I’ll be at the Comfort Inn in Sedalia and only have about 40 miles to ride. Susi will be driving from our old hometown (Winchester, IL) and will meet me in there. She’s terrific!!!!! A few photos from the day follow.