Saturday May 30 – Hermann MO to Richland MO

Arggggh!!! After yesterday being a beautiful day, it’s RAINING again!!! So, I didn’t want to get up, but finally had to take the dogs out. After they ate, I saw Beverly outside, so in just a few minutes I was ready to go walk to the Bakery. Chuck is staying in.

We didn’t go the same way I did last night, but walked out the north end of the park and over to Market St. There are some beautiful old homes here, and there was one that the folks are repainting.

You can see where they are stripping the old paint down to bare wood and repainting. Lots of gingerbread here and lots of hills!

Once at the bakery, we were greeted by LOTS of donuts and pastries and wonderful smells. Beverly bought the last Apple Strudel, and I bought a pecan caramel pastry (both about 15” long), two bear claws and two apple custard pastries, plus a cup of coffee. Old stove in the bakery.

Armed with our goodies, we walked back to the rigs in the sometimes misty morning. At Beverly’s, we cut the two big pastries in half, then I had a slice of the pecan caramel for breakfast along with the coffee.

Beverly and Chuck were ready to head toward Indiana, and I drove up to Schiller Street and parked in front of the bike shop. Turns out he had fenders, but nothing that will fit the Giant Sedona. I drove a little further up the street and parked out of the way. I decided to walk up and down the streets looking in the shops and take more pictures.
Home decor and gingerbread!!! Over the top decor in a shop
Beautiful window detail
Interesting table detail Quite tall salt and pepper shakers - probably 6" tall!!
Inviting gate

By this time, the sky had cleared and the weather was turning breezy and hot. On First Street, I stopped and got lunch. I had Knackwurst and sauerkraut with hot German potato salad and hot tea. The lunch was VERY tasty, but the service went from prompt to ignore. So, I got up to pay and the waitress realized she had forgotten me, as I heard her mutter a little “opps” when I asked for my check.


I went back to Blue and moved again to the Riverfront Park and took the dogs for a walk.


Once we got back on the road, I headed back west along highway 94 to look for a parking trail head for the Katy trail. Turns out I should have gone north on 19 a little farther instead of turning on 94. I had to go about 15 miles before I could park.

I unloaded the bike and decided I would ride 5 miles one way and 5 miles back, that way I could honestly say I rode on the Katy trail! The trail is hard pack dirt with fine gravel that runs along the MKT rail lines. In many areas, it is in between the cliffs and the Missouri River. The section I chose was mostly under the trees, so the sun and wind didn’t bother me too much.



I did stop once to try to take a picture of the hawks flying above the trees and got attacked by mosquitoes!!! OW! I pedaled fast out of there!! As low as I was moving, I didn’t have problems with the critters! Once back at Blue, I loaded up the bike and headed back to Hermann and highway 19.

I stopped in Hermann for gas and overfilled the tank. Phew, did that gas stink!! I stopped a few times in the little towns on the way to double check the map and take more photos. I’m so glad I use a digital camera now!!

When I got to Cuba (19 and I-44) I pulled into a truck stop and parked to take a nap. One thing about the small roads here, there aren’t any road shoulders and the driveways are 90 degrees with no aprons, so no where to pull off to relax.

Got back to Anjanines around 7:30pm and got lots of hugs from the 3 kids that are here. The older ones are at Girl Scout camp this weekend. I gave Anjanine her Apple Strudel with instructions to the kids that the pastry is ONLY for Anjanine!! She starting nibbling immediately and pronounced it delicious.

John brought pizza back for dinner. YUM. Everyone turned in early tonight, including me!

Sunday May 31 – Richland MO

I woke up around 7:30 this morning to a nice clear day. Gave the dogs breakfast in Blue and turned them loose. I’d love to feed them outside but the other two dogs are out and they eat in the evening, so my dogs come in for their own breakfast or get tied up when the others eat.

We all went up to the base for church, then off to Rolla to pick up the girls from camp. Teen and pre-teen girls can’t be a lot of fun for the leaders, if I could tell from the grumbling in the back seat!

Once back home, we had taquitos for lunch (I can’t remember the last time I had taquitos, except at Melodies in Reseda). I went out to Blue to nap, as my allergies are driving me nuts. I think Pat is napping, too. It’s pretty oppressive with the moisture and the heat, but at least it is sunny and NOT RAINING!

Now we are relaxing, John is riding the mower (AH-CHOOO) and the kids are playing outside. The dogs are all laying around trying to be cool.

Had ham, mashed red potatoes with skins, spaghetti squash for dinner. It’s hard not to overeat!! Everyone is full and very uncomfortable from the heat. This sure ain’t a dry heat!!! I love the green, but if I’m going to be hot, I’d rather be in the desert!

Friday May 29, Sedalia MO and Escapade to Hermann, MO

I was up early to feed and walk the dogs. Smudge has really been on overload with all the smells and excitement.

I walked up to the Hospitality building after I gave Charlie the sign to take with him. Missing something???

By the time I got to hospitality, our table was pretty full. There were folks from a couple of rigs that weren’t with our group, but between Ed and I walking our dogs, we found a total of 8 LD’s, with a 9th spotted. Charlie and Bonnie came down to where we were (both areas) so they become part of our group, even though they weren’t parked with the original pod of 4.There were dozens upon dozens of donuts, with coffee and orange juice to drink. Beverly thought she got a plain donut, which turned out to be strawberry. She gave half to Willie, who took one bite and tried to pass it to me. They both said it wasn’t the right flavor for a donut. I was bad and had two glazed. "Care" Bear for auction - he gets to travel for a year with the winner!!

Willie told us all she should have charged admission for all the folks gathered round to watch her get her rig pulled out of the mud. That got a good chuckle. At least it turned out her insurance covered it.

From breakfast, I went and got Blue, packed up the few remaining things I had out and went to get weighed. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Blue is underweight on both axles and very closely balanced right and left sides. After that blowout I had a few years back, I’ve been very careful with my tires and pressure, and haven’t had the opportunity to have Blue weighed.

I followed that up with a trip to Radio Shack to pick up a weather radio/alarm for Anjanine, then headed off to old town Sedalia.

I found a fairly shady place to park and unloaded the bike. I went up and down the streets in the historic section, taking lots of photos. I think I have dropped my camera one too many times, as it is starting to act up. I wandered into a couple of antique stores and a bike shop that has been in business 75 years!! I’ve been looking for fenders, but with no luck.

Scott Joplin mural

By the time I was done wandering, it was close to lunchtime. Willie and Bonnie had tried the “Ivy Cottage Tea Room”, so I moved Blue down in front of the café and went in to have a bite. I chatted with the waitress for quite a bit and then ordered iced tea, chicken noodle soup and a chicken salad sandwich.

As all the buildings are quite old (some originally had businesses on the lower floor and brothels on the upper floor!), there are lots of neat tin ceilings and other fun architectural details to photograph. So, I was taking photos while I waited for my lunch.

I took half my sandwich to go, so I would have room for strawberry-rhubarb pie, a la mode!! YUMMMM.. there must have been extra cinnamon or nutmeg in the crust, but it was really good.

After lunch I drove to the Katy Railroad Depot, which has been restored. It is also one of the trail heads for the 225 mile long Katy Bike Trail. I had originally planned to ride my bike there in Sedalia, but after discovering that part of the trail isn’t finished there, I decided to wait until I got to Hermann.


Just before leaving Sedalia, I went back toward Wal-Mart, as I noticed a tire store across the street. They were kind enough to check and air all of Blues tires, for free!!

I then headed east on highway 50 for the next phase of this adventure, but I kept getting sidetracked by neat old houses begging to have their photos taken!

In the little town of Syracuse.....

I passed on stopping in Jefferson City (the capital), as I stopped so many times and poked around in a couple of antique or collectibles places, and got to Hermann around 5pm. I had a little issue getting Blue level, but finally got situated. I took the dogs for a nice walk, and then a couple started coming over to chat. Turns out it is Beverly and Chuck!!

After we talked for a bit, I took the bike and rode back to the highway intersection to check out what I want to investigate tomorrow. It’s pretty hilly here, and the bike path out of the park isn’t rideable for me at this time!! What a grade!! I ended up walking up to Market St., then rode everywhere else. Again I took a lot of photos.





I stopped and asked a lady walking her dog about the Bakery. Turns out the one I saw is the correct one, they had just sold everything and were just closing by the time Chuck and Beverly came by.

I stopped by Beverly’s LD on the way back and tomorrow morning we are all going to walk up to the bakery (which opens at 5:30am) and see if we can get some goodies. I plan on parking at the Katy Trail Head and I will ride for a bit, then head back to Anjanines.



After taking the furr kids out one last time, it was time for sleep.