GreatPlains2012

Day 13

Monday, 25 Jun 2012
Independence, MO to Warrensburg, MO
49.2 miles, 4h05m, 12.0 mph
Elapsed Time: 5h20m, Max speed: 32.1mph
Total Climbing: 1921ft, Max elevation: 1118ft
Total mileage: 833.9

Today was a fairly short day so I rested a while and didn't start riding until about 9am. I should have started earlier. It was oppressively hot and humid. The temperature was actually lower than yesterday, but it felt much hotter.

I had to work my way over to US 50, which entailed several tough miles on hilly backroads. Did I mention it was hot?

Missouri back roads.

This is more like what I'm used to.

Eventually I reached Warrensburg. I grabbed lunch at the Burger King and headed downtown for the courthouse--because I heard they have a statute of a dog.

This is Old Drum, the unselfish dog. Old Drum was the subject of a lawsuit after he was shot
by a neighbor for allegedly killing sheep. Old Drum's owner sued the shooter, the owner won the suit, and the owner's
lawyer made a big speech, and now there's a statue of the dog at the courthouse.

And here's that courthouse.

Lies! I know the Santa Fe Trail and the Santa Fe Trail is nowhere near here.

I was really happy to get out of the sun and into my frosty hotel room.

The plan for tomorrow is to ride to Sedalia and pick up the Katy Trail to Boonville. Boonville is very close to the start of the Santa Fe Trail. Maybe I'll see it again. I think I'll try to make an earlier start and beat some of the heat.

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