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2009 DNR ride and the heat
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Brad from St Louis on 6/30/2009 10:51:58 AM:
I did the 2007 ride and felt lucky that the heat and humidity held off until the last couple days.

How did people fare on this year's ride? Were there any emergencies?

I don't think I would have coped well with such extreme heat, especially with camping.

 
MAH from Blue Springs, MO on 6/30/2009 11:30:52 AM:
Hubby and I did the ride and it was the hottest we've ever ridden. Luckily they started breakfast earlier this year so we could get on the trail earlier. 6AM all days except for Tuesday and it started at 5:35.
On Tuesday (hottest and longest day) from Pilot Grove to Jeff city, the heat index got up to 114. On Tuesday, Dave Kelly (DNR) closed the trail at Hartsburg at 3:00 to any more of the riders coming through and made them sag in due to the heat as many were having trouble by that time and the Hartsburg American Legion (air conditioned) was full of riders having heat related issues. Fortunately we were through Hartsburg by 12:15 and made it to JC OK. I heard that between Monday and Tuesday, aprox 60 riders dropped out due to the heat. I think there were more people this year sagging in than in previous years. Nights were hot too....hard to get good rest.
All that said, it still was a very good ride and we had a good time. As always, the DNR did a great job.
 
Randy from Kansas City on 7/2/2009 5:09:15 PM:
I rode in the DNR ride this year for the second time. It was very hot, all the time. I made it in to the camp sites all week but the heat made it more challenging. I hadn't heard about the trail being closed at Hartsburg on Tuesday but had heard there were several dropped out because of the heat. It was still fun and I paln on doing it again next year. Thank you DNR for a great week!
 
ktytrfan from Hannibal, Mo. on 7/4/2009 5:06:00 PM:
DNR did a great job under very trying weather circumstances!! Kudos to all involved, especially Sgt. Barnes and his staff! Hot, hot, and hotter! I was so thankful I had only signed up to do two days this year. I did full day on Monday and went back for more punishment on Tuesday, but after 45 miles I "wimped" out and was one of the ones who had to be sagged in. Was glad I was riding with people who had more sense than I did and were helpful in helping me to decide on finally calling it quits. Opening up the American Legion in Hartsburg was a wonderful service by some very thoughtful people!! One just never knows about weather in Missouri and it was just a crazy year for the annual DNR ride. Will I go back next year? Probably so; it was great to see some familiar friendly faces from the year before.
 
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