Ride C2C, Leg#3, Our Upcoming Route Highlights???

We are at the Denver airport, waiting for our flight to Sioux City, Iowa. With a little time to kill, Doug and I are reviewing our bicycle route.   I always like to have some “highlights” to look forward to along the way.  In legs #1 & #2, that was easy!

On Leg#1, we dipped our tires in Bellingham Bay and headed over Washington & Rainy Passes in the Cascades, had great Mexican food in Brewster with our dear friend Marie, overnights Margies RV park where we met Chrissy who took us swimming in Omak Lake,  another overnight in Sandpoint Idaho, and the ultimate beautiful ride over the “going to the sun” road in Glacier National Park.

Leg #2 was filled with natural wonders - The Grand Tetons which Truely were grand, riding across the Bighorn Basin, enduring a 26 mile climb to Powderhorn pass in the big horn mountains at 9666 feet, a visit and ride with Emma, one of Doug’s former students, Devils Tower, the Mickelson trail into the Black Hills with Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore.  WOW!

Leg #3... let’s just say it will be more sublime. I think we shall name it the “Lewis & Clark Great BBQ Tour”. (Thanks to Steve, one of our Cycle Moles, who is giving us great BBQ leads).  

In Sioux City there is the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.  And a place called Schweddy’s Hot Dog Shop (Schweddy Weiners?) - of course we will go.

Then...

Several more Lewis & Clark centers and parks, in Higginsville the Robertson Memorial Library, the Katy Trail (connects St. Charles & Clinton Missouri), Meramec Caverns, Cave in Rock (Illinois), Kentucky Village Dam Resort, Loretta Lynn Ranch, Natchez Trace, and wrapping up in Nashville Tennessee with the recommended “Will Newman’s Edleys” BBQ joint.

In general, here’s our route:

We follow the Adventure Cycling “Lewis & Clark” route starting in Sioux City and follow the Missouri River south and east until Dutzow, where we then head south to follow the “Great Rivers South” route until Shady Grove, then ride the Natchez Trace to Nashville.

So if you have any tips for sights or BBQ along our route, please post in the comments on this blog!  We’d love to hear from you.

~Robin