Date: August 21, 2005
Route: Keokuk , IL to Hannibal , MO
Distance: 62 miles
Ride Time: 4h 15m
Elevation Climbed: 2500’
Weather: high 80s, 80% humidity
Log
I was looking forward to a short, easy, uncomplicated day and, guess what … it was. Sure, it was too hot and too humid, but I was at the hotel by 12:20pm and avoided baking in the afternoon heat.
After leaving Keokuk, the route left the Mississippi on quiet, country roads. At mile 20 we returned to the river and continued south for 20 miles on the flood plain. I have never been on a straighter, flatter road in my life! For the first time on the trip I could see the results of the drought. I passes miles and miles of stunted, dying, or dead corn. The route took us through Quincy, one of my favorite stops on XC03. However, I rode under the bridge that I had crossed 2 years ago and saw a totally different part of the city. It was an easy 20 miles to Hannibal , childhood home of Mark Twain. Melanie and I had plenty of time to visit the Mark Twain Interpretive Center , his house, the house of Becky Thatcher, and a coffee shop.
At route rap, we said good goodbye to those who at leaving at St. Charles . Tomorrow will be their last day on the road. It will certainly change the dynamics of the group to have only 16 riders the rest of the way to New Orleans .
