C2C Leg#3 Day 7 Atchison to Watkins Mill State Park - a very long day indeed

7/3/21
Day 7: Atchison to Watkins Mill State Park
Miles: 75!
Total Miles: 354.1
MYZone MEPs: 1542 - a beefy day (4,431 calories)

Knowing that we had a long day ahead, we departed Atchison at 6:45am. (Picture of the bridge we are about to cross over the Missouri)

Over the bridge into Missouri.  We were feeling rooked since we never got a “Welcome to Kansas” sign but we did get a “You are leaving” sign. Ha Ha!

500 feet later...Welcome to Missouri...thanks Missouri, we appreciate your sign.

1st 15 miles great - kind of flat, shade from the side hill all the way to Weston.  

It’s so flat because we are in the flood plain of the Missouri River.  Here’s a barn on stilts - to protect from the flooding.

Our first snack stop was in the town of Weston.  Cute, had a more Euro feel to it.  

I know it seems like we are always stopping and eating, but when you are on the bike for 6 hours, it is important to eat 200 calories or so per hour (that’s all you can digest) AND get off the bike seat.

And then the steep and rolling hills began. Yes, in the picture look waaaaay into the distance and see the road cut uppppp and over the hill.  9% Grade.

We stopped for lunch (turkey on bread) on the side of the road on a lawn in the shade.

Our feast...

Missouri has a different feel to it.  Wealthier.  Acres of mowed lawn (who has time to mow all that lawn?).  Painted fences.

Smithville - took a wrong turn but decided to take advantage of that and go into an air conditioned restaurant for a cold drink - she even filled up our water bottles with ice water.  Ahhh

We never found the grocery store, but knew there were more options before the state park... or so we thought.  

Then long span with heavy traffic, idiot drivers pulling boats, little or no shoulder.  We missed a turn and had to backtrack.  

BIG. ROLLING. HILLS.  5-11% grade were very steep, in granniest of granny gears, sweat pouring down our noses.  

Another stop at a convenience store (far and few between) in Paradise for gatorades and snickers bars.  

We pinned our hopes on the restaurant and grocery store that our map said existed in Holt, but they weren’t there.  So no meal, 65 miles into the ride, no resupply before the campground.  Then we had to guess at the “unnamed road” to turn on to get the the campground. My attitude went in the toilet.  I got a stitch in my side and F* it, walked up the next 8% grade hill.  

Doug asked for directions from a nice family sitting out on their deck at the top of the hill.  Grandpa said you can’t go that way because the bridge is out.  Daughter said the bridge was out but we could make it because we were on bikes. OK off we go, at least thinking we were heading in the right direction.

The bridge WAS out and we didn’t want to go back (to big of a hill).  So in 3 trips, we took off our bags and ported them across the river then went back for our bikes.  It took half an hour to portage our gear, bikes...our bags are heavy.  Makes me think we need to chuck a few things.

Steep Hill after Steep Hill after Steep Hill.  Finally, at 72 miles, we find the turnoff to Watkins Mill State Park and the camping was like 300 miles on the other side of this huge park (Well, 3 miles, but it felt like more).  We found our campsite and were beyond weary. 

We slept on the picnic table bench while waiting for the showers to reopen at 6pm.  

Bag of dinner (the last of our emergency rations) we are tired and going to turn in.  A curious raccoon came peeking through the bushes.  Bunnies hopped around our campsite and the fireflies bid us goodnight.