June 29, 2005

Jefferson City, Missouri

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Twas not a pretty sight, having to tear the team from their luxurious accommodations at the Doubletree Inn in Overland Park. Mandi was hoping that no one would notice her absence and she would be able to stay in that soft comforter laden bed at least until her senior year in college.  But, the heartless dad that she has, made her get up at the crack of dawn (6:45 AM) and get packed and ready to go on another AAA adventure.  The rest of us were aghast at this evident abuse of a teenaged daughter and had considered turning Bill in to the authorities as a cruel, unfit parent of a poor downtrodden member of the teenaged sect, Teen Queens.  But Mandi, afraid to put her sixteenth birthday present of a car, a horse, and a cell phone in jeopardy, decided not to press charges.

Here is a picture of our goal, for the day.  A lonely outpost in the middle of Missouri, a virtual icon for the railroad industry, this famous station in its heyday sported polished steel rails and at least one train a day servicing Hartsville and other thriving Missouri communities.  Now, defunct without rails, it serves bicyclists riding across the state of Misery also known as Missouri.  Despite a heat factor of over 110 our three heroes set out on their bicycles and traveled the rails to trails journey of the Katy Trail to Jefferson City, MO.

Here is a clone of Bruce, acting as the advance party to explain to the media, that the three riders will be riding the trail at such a blistering pace that young Mandi will be trailing far behind.

Mandi as you can see is not trailing far behind but is  being pushed far ahead by the monstrous bow wave being produced by the three riders.

It was not long for the inveterate trio to make it across the finish line.  Bruce, of course,  despite the drag of his beard, pulled ahead at the last while Billy Bob, elbowed Joe and sprinted ahead to take second place.

After Bruce was awarded the yellow tshirt for winning this stage of the AAA race, he graciously treated the rest of the team to a BBQ lunch, hosted by his wife Cheryl.  Thanks Cheryl and Bruce for the hospitality. Tomorrow we continue down the trail, towards St Louis. 

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