Day 30 Augusta MO to Tebbetts MO

June 10, 2023

Leaving Augusta, the trail is primarily wooded with some open stretches.

There were areas of dried grasses just next to the trail. Herbicides?

Sewage treatment facility. I thought everyone out here would have their own septic system.

Peers Store: all profits support the KATY Trail

After McKittrick, I had the trail all to myself. It was like having your own private country road through the forest.

I was running low on water. I noticed a hand pump at the entrance to Steamboat Springs Campground. Just then, the owner drove in and asked if I needed anything. He offered to get his golf cart and give me a tour as well as water from his well. He has tent sites and 4 RV campsites. The house was built from remains of Steamboat Clara that sank in1870. The river use to run right up to where hwy 94 is in front of the property. Very nice man. I should’ve taken him up on the offer of well water.

By the time I got to Portland I was seriously fading and thirsty. Luckily I ran into a lovely couple from Joplin MO who offered me a cold Gatorade from the cooler in their car! Sure hit the spot!
Martha is a school nurse and Darryl used to be in the Airforce. Martha told me about the tornado in Joplin that destroyed one of their hospitals.
A storm front was approaching so, feeling revived, I hightailed it to Tebbetts 15 miles away.

A nice glimpse of the river before the rain started.

There have been many signs warning of rough surfaces but the surface would be fine. Between Portland and Tebbetts it was another story. It looked like drunken tractor drivers had a rodeo during rainy season and left tracks that didn’t follow a straight line and then dried hard. You could see where cyclists tried to ride a straight line inside or outside of w tracks but it wasn’t possible. Oh well , it alleviates any boredom I might be having by trying to pick a track where I won’t be riding over the washboard tread marks.

Peter and Henry picked me up and we went out to dinner. Shrimp and grits with andouille sausage. Tasty but doesn’t compare to what Jason used to cook up at the Beach Store Cafe on Lummi Island.

Tomorrow is laundry and planning day. Yay!

Today's ride: 66 miles (106 km)
Total: 1,154 miles (1,857 km)

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