tomdet on 10/22/2007 2:31:41 PM:
My wife and I, ages 67 and 73, made our first independent bike trip, Sedalia to Dutzow and return by Amtrak last week. We rode 185 miles at an average speed of 10 mph. We learned:
1, The trail is very good; we should have extended our daily travel, which was from 25 to 45 miles. 2, B&Bs were excellent, but some have a 4 PM access time, precluding getting to a location early and showering so you can enjoy the town. Inquire when making a reservation. 3, Many services other than lodging are frequently closed; plan to stay in larger towns and take lunch stuff with you. On my next trip, my stops, beginning in Sedalia, will be Booneville, Columbia (via a 9-mile extension at McBain), Jefferson City, Hermann, and Washington, all towns where you will find restaurants open. 4, The bridges are OK except for Washington, where heavy traffic on a 4-mile approach with minimal shoulders, a very narrow bridge and a 30 mph head wind discouraged my wife from even agreeing to try it; our B&B host picked us up