C2C Leg#3 Day 10 Lexington to Arrow Rock - Classic Bike Touring & Racoon shenanigans

7/6/21

Day 10: Lexington to Arrow Rock - classic bike touring 
Miles:  67. 4
Total Miles: 487.2
MYZone MEPS: ??? My strap didn’t pick up the whole ride

We woke at 4:30am today, wanting to get an early start to try to beat some of the heat.  On the road by 5:54am. 

It was “cool” in the 60’s and watching the colors of the sunrise was stunning.  

At about 16 miles, we were in Higginsville - cute 1 street downtown. 

Nothing was open yet, but we found a shaded bench and had a Gatorade and an energy bar.  You’ll see that combo is a recurring theme. 

We rolled out through a neighborhood with pretty houses and well kept yards.

Turned onto State Route 20 - this was classic bike touring with wide open road, views for miles, and more civilized rolling hills with a 1-3% climb out.   There are a variety unfamiliar and very large farm equipent that pass us by today.

The slight tailwind improved our moods. The only risk was that we had to stay in the road because of the soft gravel shoulder that would be treacherous if we hit it at speed.

We stop for a map check and YEP, we are going straight and are on the right straight road.  We Pass through 3 “town” names on the map that had nothing (no services) and stopped to have our snack in some shade in the long driveway of a farm.

At about 35 miles we came to Marshall, named for John Marshall, the 1st Supreme Court Chief Justice.  Cute town with the county courthouse on a grassy park block surrounded by a big roundabout and businesses all around that. 

We did a little grocery store recon with a local, who owned the Brick BBQ (and said we should come back) after our 2 mile side trip to Walmart - the only grocery store.

So we did!  We both had the pulled pork & brisket sandwich - with choices of spicy or sweet BBQ.  Who do you think liked which one?

Thanks Brick BBQ - you get thumbs up!

After that lunch we had a little rest in the county courthouse park.

It was 4 lousy-road miles on State Route 240 - terrible shoulder with areas of soft gravel (that grabs your tire), crappy road surface, and heavy traffic going 60 MPH. Not fun. thankfully a turn onto route 41 (for 15 miles) brought light traffic and a better road. 

Still no shoulder, but the light traffic made it easier for cars/trucks/semis to go around us.  Still nice open feeling to the roads with long gently rolling hills.

 Side note:  all of the streams and river banks are muddy-muddy-muddy.  That makes the water look like chocolate milk!

We turned off into the town of Arrow Rock (founded 1829) and Main Street is cute and seems like it is set up for weekend tourists (today is Tuesday and everything was closed, except for an air conditioned room that had a drink vending machine) but also has a really nice walking historical tour with many landmarks. 

We are way too sweaty to do this now, but check out the 1-person jail.  Apparently there was only ever 1 prisoner and when his hollering kept the neighbors awake, they released him. 

To get to the park and camping, we rode down into a steep gully, so steep that we walked the bikes while getting bitten by mosquitos on the way up the other side.  We changed from an “electric” site near the RVs to the “basic” camping area and have only 1 other camper here. 

It is peaceful, in the shade, and I can hear the sounds of the French horn through the woods as Doug practices.

 EPILOGUE - THE INCIDENT OF THE RACCOONS IN THE NIGHT

It was a beautiful dry & hot night, so no rainfly on the tent. We were forewarned by our camp host (every state campground has someone) that there were raccoons.  To prepare, we brought all of our bags and food inside the tent...we know how curious raccoons can be.

The first time I woke up, I heard digging sounds just outside the tent near our bags.  Hmm.  The 2nd time I woke up there was some animal snuffling by my head and walking around the tent.  The 3rd time I woke up, the Racoons had knocked our pots off the table - and that woke Doug up too.  

As we flashed our headlamps into the darkness of the night, we saw one pop up and peer at me in the tent (its a little unnerving) then scamper up the tree.  The 4th time... the 5th time...I tried to scare them off.  Not a restful night.  They caused a ruckus, but no harm.

In the morning, Doug took the trash to the big garbage bin and who was inside reaching up to greet Doug?  A Racoon!   No wonder he dropped the lid of the trash bin with a bang.