Missouri Adventure Loop
1,800 miles of backroad bliss.
August, 2020
This ride was made possible by Ajayhawkfan on the AdvRider site.
As he did all the legwork for the routes I rode---and I thank him.

 

 

The whole loop in a picture.

 

 

 

I live in Illinois so I head to Chester Illinois to ride over the bridge to Missouri
But first stop by the "Mary's River Covered Bridge" just out of Chester.

 

 

There are very few covered bridges left in Illinois

 

 

 

 

 

Chester is the home of popeye----I ride thru this town often and am use to all the statues of Popeye
characters that are all over town----------here's Brutis--------he's being careful I guess.

 

 

 

Seems I can't get anywhere without running into these things.

 

 

 

 

No Problem

 

 

 

No way around these guys-------the truck was stuck in the ditch and couldn't move.
You can't see it but there is a big tractor behind the hay wagon and it's hitched to the
trailer with a big chain. I was glad to help these guys and gave the truck driver signals to
when to step on the gas. Really nice fellows. Never met a farmer that wasn't nice.
They said I had a hill to climb down the road and I asked them to pick me up if I fell over.
Yeh-------we all have to help each other out.

 

 

 

 

 

I did "NOT" attempt this crossing.
Look at the mud in front of me---there are NO tracks.
I think this is the Bourveuse River---and also is known as the Aeiker Ford.

 

 

 

 

 

Plenty of tracks here--------but being alone I thought it would not be smart of me to try this.
And I didn't. This the Wommack ford.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh----by the way I'm riding alone and am on my Honda CB500X.
And am packing camping gear.
It's been unbelievably hot lately---but Jim my weather man assured me I had 10 days of good
cool weather with NO humidity. So off I went.

 

 

 

Just South of Louisiana and Hannibal, Missouri.
I was told there was about 50% pavement on this ride---but really thought there was only about 35%.
Made for a great ride with a little bit of everything.
I'm riding the route counterclockwise.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Riding North on highway 79 I spotted this little bridge you seen in this picture.
Over the bridge was what is barely left of Ilasco, Missouri.

 

 

 

 

The old Jailhouse-----there was an elderly lady there who really wanted to tell me about her little town.
She went to School here -----------the school was in ruins.
She apologized to me for having to cut our conversation short as she had an appointment.
I felt like I had really missed out on what had to be be interesting story's.

 

 

 

 

I've noticed----nice elderly ladies are always driving Buicks ????? As I watched her leave.

 

 

 

I really lacked taking pictures on this ride-------the scenery all looked liked this.

 

 

 

 

I expected a whole lot of these possible slick crossing---but they were just a few.
I'm not saying they weren't slick-------but I never fell on one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got within 2 miles of the Iowa border and went the 2 miles into Iowa-----------there was no sign ?????
Or border line-------so I made one. It was more of a dot, dot, dash, dot, dot.

 

 

 

 

A short Video--Please select HD on all these videos if you have the speed.

 

 

 

 

The weather was so nice and cool.
I set up camp just a mile South of Eagleville, Missouri.
Had a jetboil dinner which was difficult to eat with a knife--------I forgot my spork.

 

 

 

 

 

I broke camp early and the next thing I know I'm in Denver.
The last time I was in Denver was in 1982----I've been trying to forget that experience and
vowed to never get within a hundred miles of it ever again------sorry Denverites.
I used up one of my 9 lives that day----me, my 4 year old Son and my wife were in a 1963 Harley Davidson
Duo-Glide------------a Panhead-------with a sidecar. We all could have been killed.

There were about 6 zero's missing off the population sign-----didn't seem as bad as the first time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Any concrete bridge I've ever seen is flat. This one was pretty new and had a big bow in it.

 

 

 

 

 

There were a lot of roads that were just dirt---no gravel or rock------these were my favorite.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was the best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Had to do a little re-routing here and there---------no problem at all.

 

 

A short Video

 

Starting my 4th day on the ride------stayed in a motel that night.

 

 

 

 

 

I need to find out about this little non-motorized trail.
Looks like a rails to trails route---but I don't think it was. ????

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edit----when I got home I did a bit of research----this is a new extension of the Katy Trail.
A 270 mile trail across Missouri on an old railroad bed for hiking and biking.
I've rode that trail on a bicycle many years ago carrying camping gear.
One of the top things in my life I've done.
The original route I rode goes from St. Louis to Clinton, Missouri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A bit of this

 

 

 

 

 

And a bit of that

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This guy didn't know who he was messing with and bit off more than he could chew.
From one dog to another.

I'm kind of thinkin' this was Liberal, Missouri.
Got a pizza and root beer and went down the street to the park to eat it.
I swear this ride goes thru a hundred little towns with a population of less than 100------really refreshing.
Nice, friendly, happy people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Video

 

 

 

Not only is this day 5---------this is a very good friend of mine "High Five" on AdvRider.
Or--------Scott to me.
He lives near Tulsa, Oklahoma and when my route got nearest him he fired the big Beemer up
and met me at the motel I was in---------after dark.

 

 

 

 

I have a secret weapon that nobody has caught onto yet.
When in doubt-----hesitate and let the other guy go first !!!!

 

 

 

 

This bike was for sale when he left his house-------but I think he has decided to keep it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

These next few pictures are on the famous "Glade Top Trail" in Southwest Missouri.
It rides high on a ridge and there are great views up there.

 

 

A nice foresty lady told us some interesting stuff about the area.
But man she was interesting----was one of those people during forest forest fires that repel out of
the helicopter. EEEEkkkk. I've been in a helicopter---parachuted out of an airplane--but
never repelled down into a ball of fire. Gotta put that on my bucket list I guess.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the little town of Rockbridge is this old Mill.
One of the more spectacular ones I've ever seen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Five sneaks off to the bar and comes back with this evil shit eatin' grin on his face.
He didn't just bring water-----------he brought ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Five has may talents------a professional photographer is just one of them.
The Hodgeson Mill kept him occupied for an hour.
Me----I may have took a nap---------we were in such a hurry after all-------------"NOT".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I've seen Mills with a water wheel---and I've seen them with a rotary motor (this picture).
This mill had both-------I couldn't figure it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I couldn't hold up six fingers-----and take this picture so took 2 pictures-----Day 6
Five plus one is six-------last time I checked.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We rode all day on dirt and gravel roads.
High Five said there was dust ?????

 

 

 

 

It was time for a break and contemplation of the important things in life.

 

 

 

 

 

Falling Springs Mill and Spring

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know of 2 mills in Missouri with a steel wheel--------this is one of them.

 

 

 

 

 

Now we are at the site of the Turner Mill---righ off of Eleven Point River.
This is the spring that fed it-------the mill is gone.

 

 

 

 

This steel mill water wheel is a hundred yards down the creek from the spring.
You tell me how it got here ???? I don't know.
It's a good 35' in diameter and what keeps it from falling over ?????

 

Found this old picture of the mill-------and the wheel.

We were starving-----let me say that again--------------frickin' starving !!!!!!!
These are delicious------some say you have to be starving to like them.
I like them all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

There's that evil grin again.

 

 

 

It's day 7 and we are going our seperate ways.
I give Scott the same speech I give all my good friends when parting.
"When you say goodbye------make it a good one----you never know if you'll ever see each other again.
So wipe those tears away---I know the rest of you are sick and tired of hearing this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We wait for the Huddle House to open at 7 AM and enjoy our last meal together.
For this trip anyway !!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Five loved the Mills I took him too----and scolded me for not going to one not too far off our route.
So he'll be mad he missed this one.
In Burfordville, Missouri.
Not only a Mill but the oldest remaining covered bridge in Missouri.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was too full to eat--------but damn sure made a waypoint of this cafe.

 

 

 

 

Old bridge in Old Appleton, Missouri

 

 

 

 

McBride, Missouri
Al's Cafe
I started this ride here and finished it here.
Pie, coffee and ice cream.
I took my wife here once and she fell in love with it.
In 1993----the year of the great Mississippi river flood--water was 7' deep inside this place
and it is a good 3 miles West of the river.

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,801.6 Miles for my trip

Last Video

 

The End

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