Get-together at McKittrick 10/2/2016

A pleasant and slightly lazy morning at The Little House -- we were on the trail by 9:45am.  The 25 miles into McKittrick proved to be a leisurely ride, includ

ing  a longer morning break than usual, engaging in a fun conversation with several bicyclists at the Treloar trailhead regarding the various bike trips we had taken.  One of the guys was 77 and didn’t look a day older than 65.  Biking strong.

Shortly before we arrived in McKittrick we came upon the area where that huge tree had fallen across the trail.  The top end had been further cut off into large chunks, and the remaining bottom portion (20-25 feet) was pushed off the trail, so clear sailing! 

We learned today that there is an aviary of Giant Canadian Geese in the bluffs beside the trail. We biked through the cacophony of two honking flocks flying in opposite directions just over our heads— it was something we had never seen before and their honking  was raucous. 

But the highlight of the day was getting together with our Iowan friends, Peggy and Paul, who joined us in McKittrick. They are also cyclists, and tomorrow  they will bike with us to Jefferson City.  Today, we drove over to Herman, two miles across the Missouri, which has a rich German heritage and is having a month-long celebration of Oktoberfest.  Of course, we had bratwurst! Good night all, Diane and Rob

Little House B&B (were you expecting a bigger photo?)

Diane made us eggs and toast. And then I revisited my childhood with a single serving box of Frosted Flakes... they're great.

Then we're off on our ride.

New hazard.... black walnuts falling across the trail.

Sailing by one of the bluffs where the Giant Canadian Geese raised their goslings earlier this year.

 After riding through the competing flocks of geese flying above us honking their heads off, we came across this straggler. Diane wanted to stop and take a picture, but I sailed on by -- then I realized I was about to miss an opportunity of a lifetime.  So I turned around and raced after the bird to get this shot... and to participate in my first truly "wild goose chase." Rob