TK from Alma, MO on 7/17/2008 7:50:48 PM:
We are considering allowing my 12-year-old and his buddy to ride a section of the trail by themselves in conjunction with a camping week-end. I would drive a support vehicle and keep in touch via cell phone. The area they would ride is the Hartsburg-Boonville section. I would let them off drive to the next town, wait for them, then proceed to the next stop, and so on. The boys are quite responsible and the segments are short enough they could walk out if there were mechanical problems. Safety issues are the biggest concern. Two in particular: 1)Is there enough traffic on the week-ends that two-legged predators would not be a problem? My thinking is that if you can go more than a quarter mile without seeing someone that is too unpopulated to be safe. 2)In the case of physical injury, how could they be taken care of? I assume hikers/bikers would lend an assist but how accessable is the trail to emergency vehicles?
Am I giving the boys too much freedom? Any comments/suggestions would be very welcome.
Thanks,
Tom