Everything was wet from the rain and it took me longer to sort and pack than usual. I didn't sleep particularly well again. It seems like my shoulders and hips just don't do as well sleeping on the ground as they used to. I had an alternate route from the park through Excelsior Springs that should have saved me about 5 miles and I went over it with some park workers at the office. They seemed to think it fairly dangerous, so I decided to go back to where I came in late yesterday. I really did not want to ride those 3.5 miles of hills again. However it was peacefully and took me back by the turnoff to the mill for which the park is named. It was 9:00 AM by the time I got to the road to the mill. I was running late to get 70 miles in and the mill was at the bottom of a hill - so I decided that this would have to wait for a future visit by automobile. This is what I missed.
With the rain yesterday as I was coming into the park, I completely missed this railroad trestle that I must have ridden through.
I ate a Subway breakfast sandwich in Lawson after 8 hilly miles, though not bad with the little traffic that existed on this county road. It was pretty flat for about the next 4 miles but then got very hilly for the next 7 as I wound my way around the outskirts of Excelsior Springs and on towards Orrick where the route finally exited the hills onto the flat bottom land. This is typical of the hills I was riding - one after another.
I made it up this one but not much later came to a couple that were just too steep and I ended up walking up the last half of the two. In my entire bicycling experience, I've never walked my bike, so today was a first. The route exited the hills near Orrick.
I ate a couple of bananas at a mini-mart in Orrick and rested for a few minutes then pressed on towards the bridge across the Missouri River in Lexington. The riding was flat and fast during this 15 mike section. Getting in to Lexington was a bit hilly, but again I can't say enough about the patience and courtesy of all the drivers. I thought about calling it quits for the day in Lexington, but the Adventure Cycling map elevation profile showed everything flat between Lexington and Higginsville. WRONG!!!! I don't know who drew the elevation profile, but they need to come and ride this section. It is anything but flat. Even so, I was making good time and arrived in Higginsville just after 4:30 PM. I ate an early dinner and checked into the town's only motel. It is the bare essential type but has recently been remodeled and is clean. I unpacked all the wet gear to let it dry and air out. I'm cleaned up and laundry is just about finished. I should sleep well tonight. Tomorrow's ride should only be a little over 50 miles. I expect the hills to continue but I'm only about 70 miles from the Katy Trail and the hills will be behind me for quite a while.
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