New Trail [This Post Written and Edited by Doug Lybeck]

Today I find myself in the back of a U-Haul trailer, trucking North across the Kansas countryside. Usually such a break from riding would be a gross misstep in the Transamerica trail, but we have managed to justify it. We’re heading off route (we’ve left the Adventure Cycling map), to find a path known as the “Katy Trail.” Its been talked about much by other cyclists who have ridden it, and comes highly recommended. It’s a 225 mile, hard-pack gravel trail built on an old rail right-of-way. We feel OK about taking the U-haul because the path is 100 miles exactly north of where we left the Transamerica trail. Technically we are still riding the full coast-to-coast trail, just at a different latitude. We’re traveling with our New Zealand buddies Jackson and Heather. There’s a total of 6 of us in a truck built for two. John, Amanda, Nick and myself are stuffed in the back with all the bikes and gear. It’s a stuffy, airless 87 degrees in the enclosed truck bed. We’ve noticed the temperature rises 1 degree every ten minutes, and we have a two hour drive ahead of us – UH OH! I know the temporary discomfort will be worth it.

John Gets Comfy in the Back of the UHaul
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Amanda, Nick and Doug - Two Hours Into a Ride in the Back of the UHaul
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The bleak Kansas countryside is finally giving way to a much more hospitable Missouri hillscape. We just stopped the U-Haul for a quick pee-break and were amazed by the greenery and water! We’ll be getting into the Ozark mountain range shortly, which is supposed to be some of the prettiest scenery on the trip.