Day 32, Thursday, May 22

Maryville, Missouri to Imogene, Iowa

We woke full of hope because this was the day we would be free of the rolling hills of Missouri. If we could get through just 35 more miles, we would reach Blanchard, Iowa, on the border between the the two states, where we would get off the roads and onto the Wabash Trace rail trail. 

The first order of the day, of course, was coffee and breakfast at Daylight Donuts. The first few miles out of Maryville were terrible, on a busy US highway headed west, but soon we turned onto state roads that were less busy. We would ride a few miles north, them a few miles west, always into the northwesterly wind, which put it always on our left or right quarter.

And of course we were constantly going up and down, up and down.

Around 19 miles we reached Burlington Junction, and it was time for second breakfast, this time at the Kiss Mah Grits Kafe. We spent too much time there, but we were regaled with tales of all the lowlife scumbags that live in the area by the retired trucker at the next table.

Fueled up for the second time we were ready to leave Missouri. All we had to do was get through the hills, into wind so strong the entire county seems to be one big wind farm.

We finally made it to Blanchard and the beginning of the Wabash Trace. It was a huge relief, but we were a little disappointed with the trailhead at Blanchard. We expected some sort of amenities, like a toilet, maybe a picnic table, perhaps a map of the trail. But there was nothing. It was almost like Blanchard wants to have nothing to do with the trail or the seasonal tourist dollars it can bring in. 

We did not let that bother us. We were out of Missouri, out of the traffic, and on a good crushed limestone trail in the shade, protected from the wind.

Six miles on the trail brought us to Coin, Iowa. Here the town seemed more welcoming to cyclists. In a little park by the trail is a pavilion with picnic tables, and a toilet and shower. They will let you camp there for $10. It would have been a great place to camp but we needed to ride a few more miles so we could make it to Omaha the next day.

We did go into the town hall building next to the park to inquire about groceries or convenience stores on the trail. There we were met by a very nice group of women preparing to put flags in the cemetery for Memorial Day. They provided us with a lot of information about the towns we would be passing through, and gave us some protein bars and water. Iowans are right to be proud of how nice they are.

Of course they wanted a photo for their Facebook page. 

From there it was an easy ride about 18 miles to Imogene. There were a few downed trees from a recent storm, but our ride on the C&O Canal Towpath a month ago prepared us for that. 

We also had a small hiccup when John had another flat. With all the debris from the storm it was just impossible not to run over a few sticks, and one jumped up and bit his rear tire. It was our fifth of the trip.

We eventually made it to Imogene. Like Coin, they are set up with a cheap campsite at the trailhead, and here the  toilets and showers are in a grain bin. You cannot get more Iowa than that.

The best part of Imogene is the Emerald Isle pub just down the road. You can see it from the campsite. 

We spent the evening there talking to the owners. The husband told us everything we wanted to know about the history of Imogene. They also wanted a picture for their Facebook page.

The day started a little rough, buti I was satisfied in the end to be back on a trail with Missouri, state number seven, behind us. But we would have much bigger milestones the next day.