Day 6 – Marthasville, MO to Hamel, IL
Later in 2012, I’m planning a bicycle trip from Kansas to Annapolis. While I’m in the planning stages, I’d love to get input from folks familiar with individual portions of the route, with suggestions on changes I might want to make.
Below is a map of Day 6 of the trip. Also, here’s a link to the map on Google if you’d like to drag the route around with suggested changes.Â
Thanks a ton for any suggestions that will make the route safer or more enjoyable, or things along the way that I’d regret missing. Of course, I’d welcome participation along the route as well. If you’d like to ride a section of it together, let me know, and we’ll see if we can coordinate schedules.
Hey eastern Missouri cyclists – I’d love your thoughts on this route across north end of STL http://t.co/iOgv5g0h
Hey eastern Missouri cyclists – I’d love your thoughts on this route across north end of STL http://t.co/iOgv5g0h
Credit card touring. You can go far lighter then that if you never intend to camp. “Credit card touring” is not my preferance, but if you fancy it, as an illustration, see the pictures from my short 1-week tours in the Alps ( first , second ). Not having camping equipment reduces the bulk of things so much, that you suddenly enter the miraculous circle of weight reduction – you have so little that you don’t need any kind of racks. All the things can be supported by bicycle frame. On those credit-card (i.e. no-camping) tours I carried camera, overshoes, towel and skin ointment in a small handlebar bag (a modified middle-sized underseat bag) and other items like spare clothes, spare glasses, tools, etc in a bag behing the seat.
Thanks for the comment Sugel – I agree with you, and have written quite a bit about “minimalist” touring. I enjoy riding so much more when I don’t have to lug an extra 60# of stuff with me, and there’s no beating a warm shower and clean sheets every night!
Credit card touring. You can go far lighter then that if you never intend to camp. “Credit card touring” is not my preferance, but if you fancy it, as an illustration, see the pictures from my short 1-week tours in the Alps ( first , second ). Not having camping equipment reduces the bulk of things so much, that you suddenly enter the miraculous circle of weight reduction – you have so little that you don’t need any kind of racks. All the things can be supported by bicycle frame. On those credit-card (i.e. no-camping) tours I carried camera, overshoes, towel and skin ointment in a small handlebar bag (a modified middle-sized underseat bag) and other items like spare clothes, spare glasses, tools, etc in a bag behing the seat.
Thanks for the comment Sugel – I agree with you, and have written quite a bit about “minimalist” touring. I enjoy riding so much more when I don’t have to lug an extra 60# of stuff with me, and there’s no beating a warm shower and clean sheets every night!
Looks like a great trip! I have thought about doing part of this same trip but one of the thoughts I had was to take the Ferry at Grafton and follow the Great River Road down into Alton. It is supposed to be beautiful riding. I just picked up a new bike and am itching to get out and do some riding, including some touring. Katy Trail is awesome I think for riding, this is where I ride most of the time.
I was looking at ways to incorporate some of that Great River Road Gene. This ferry is a great idea. I think I’ll contact the ferry outfit for details and Grafton Canoe and Kayak Rental for some advice. Thanks for the idea!
Looks like a great trip! I have thought about doing part of this same trip but one of the thoughts I had was to take the Ferry at Grafton and follow the Great River Road down into Alton. It is supposed to be beautiful riding. I just picked up a new bike and am itching to get out and do some riding, including some touring. Katy Trail is awesome I think for riding, this is where I ride most of the time.
I was looking at ways to incorporate some of that Great River Road Gene. This ferry is a great idea. I think I’ll contact the ferry outfit for details and Grafton Canoe and Kayak Rental for some advice. Thanks for the idea!