Arrow rock to new franklin MO.... And beyond to Columbia,MO.
After being "shipped" back up to st pauls luth ch for a delicious breakfast we were shipped back to arrow rock st pk where we loaded our bags into the truck. "Buried" our queen size airmatress (yes we roughed it)since it recused to stay fully inflated:tossed in a pair of sandals also.
Headed down a winding,rolling road with beautiful vistas and field upon field of soybeans.
After 22 miles we entered New Franklin,which is the beginning of the santafe trail and our end point destination. There was a small crowd applauding Nd served chocolate chip cookies and brownies. Photos were taken at the santafe monument and then
Nancy and I were off to Columbia.
We needed to get to Columbia to pickup rental vehicle which will get us to GrPevine where we will unload and load up Nancys car to get us back home.
So we Picked up the Katy trail,which is a railtrail/state park,which was the former mainline of the M-K-T railroad. It is A crushed and packed limestone surface. Stayed on the katy for about 21 miles,at times next to the swiftly moving Missouri river at others next to wTer laden flood plains and soybean fields And still other times under a canopy of trees laden with colored fall foliage. We mad it to the junction of the MKT trail which was a spur to the katy trail and maintained by county and the city of columbia. Same type of surface but narrower and with a slight upward grade toward columbia. It went thru 2 wetland Areas and was heavily wooded. Rode tbis about 9 miles then took the ztreets to Avis.We loaded tbe bikes i. The vehicle and had a quick lunch then headed to New Franklin where e
We packed our bags in the car and showered in th school.
Bid goodbye to our new friends and bid them safe travels.
I write this on the road! E