June 10 - Atchison, KS to Watkins Mill SP, MO (71 mi.)

This is what it looked like from my motel window this morning.

I had a good breakfast at the Super 8 and loaded a few extra goodies for the day. I set off in a light rain. It never rained heavily but it did rain/drizzle for most of the day. I crossed the Missouri River on the Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge on US54 which is only about a year old, is very nice and had a wide shoulder.

This put me in Missouri.

The first 14 miles were along the River and were very flat. Near Iatan, MO I passed a KCPL coal generatin station.

Here are a few photos durin the middle of the day when it wasn't raining. This area is the outskirts of Kansas City. Very scenic riding along peaceful county roads - though very hilly.

Once in Smithville, MO I ate a sandwich and evaluated whether to get another motel for the night but I had only gone 40 miles and it was still just early afternoon and not raining at the time. I decided to push on to Paradise, MO and camp at a county campground on Lake Smithville 9 miles down the road. These photos are of the lake.

Riding through this area was very pleasant and I can't say enough about how patient and courteous the driver all were.

I arrived in Paradise and relaxed at the Paradise General Store while checking the forecast and eating a banana and apple.

It was now 4:00 PM and still not raining so I decided to continue on to Holt, MO 11 miles further and which has a motel. The forecast was for diminishing chance of showers, but of course a couple of miles down the road it started to rain again. The rain had quit by the time I arrived in Holt. I missed a turn while distracted by a gas station/mart where I was going to reevaluate my option. I stopped in at a local feed/grain store that was about to close and got back on track. My originally intended destination for today was Watkins Mill State Park located north of Excelsior Springs, MO. It was now nearly 5:30 PM. I bought a Snickers and used the rest room then headed on to the park yet another 11 miles. It rained nearly the whole way. I arrived at the campground around 6:30 PM. The campground host was very helpful with getting me set up. I took a NICE long, hot shower then tried to dry my towel, bike clothes and rain gear under the restroom hand dryer. This worked reasonably well. I called my "one and only" to let her know where I was and to check on her day. I had e-mailed her earlier in the day about my intension to stop for the night in Paradise.

It's nearly 10:00 PM and it sounds like the rain has stopped. Time to turn in. Great day, even with the rain.