Don's Bicycle Trip Home



Don Dunham, partly inspired by Darrol Gasawski's retirement canoe trip (see Darrol's Canoe Trip), is riding his bicycle from Omaha to St. Louis.
After 7 years in Omaha, he's retiring and returning home to his wife, family, and friends, while unfortunately, leaving friends behind in Omaha.
This web page follows his progress during this 600 mile adventure.
He left on Sunday July 31st, and could complete the trip in roughly 2 weeks, however, he won't be in a hurry. He intends to ride at a leisurely pace, probably covering only 20 to 40 miles per day. He may even linger an extra day at times if he happens to stumble across a winery, for example.

This isn't the first long bicycle trip he has taken. In 1973 as a 23 year old, he went on a 1000 mile trip making a big circle from Lima, Ohio through Kentucky and Indiana before returning. Incidentally, for this retirement trip, he will be using the same bike as he did on this 1973 trip; A bike he got back in 1966. Read his story of this trip

You can follow Don's trip on Twitter. He personally won't really be doing the tweeting (he will dictate that to this webmaster). Additionally, we will insure that he gets any comments or questions.



Travel Log
Departed Omaha, July 31st, 2011 (pics)
Day 1 (Sunday, July 31st): 33.5 miles to near Malvern, Iowa (pics) (map) N41 0.318 -- W95 35.47 Reached the campground with no issues, this afternoon's ride wasn't as hot as I thought it'd be. Feeling great! Emil and Kirsten were my wingmen for a few miles.
Day 2 (Monday, August 1st): 24.6 miles to Shenandoah, Iowa (pics) (today's map) N40 46.0 -- W95 23.1 It was just to darn hot to go very far today, so I found a good place to stop for the night and am going to spend the afternoon at the local tavern soaking up some suds. Notes from the road: It was so bright that I wore out my sunglasses, and I wasn't alone today, there were several butterflies and other bugs riding my bike along with me.
Day 3 (Tuesday, August 2nd): 21.1 miles to Clarinda, Iowa (pics) (today's map) N40 43.5 -- W95 2.3 Went short again today, the heat was just brutal. And to make matters worse, now that I am off the Wabash Trail and onto the highway, the shoulders are soft. So I sink in and it makes for a hard go; No matter where I was it felt like I was going uphill. I am really looking forward to Missouri where most of the time the shoulders will be paved. I am staying in a motel tonight, and when the owner found that I was on a bicycle, he gave me the night for free. It sounds like it will be much cooler on Thursday, so in celebration of my 36th wedding anniversary, I plan on staying here for 2 nights. Back on the road Thursday.
Day 4 (Wednesday, August 3rd): Rest day in Clarinda, Iowa
Day 5 (Thursday, August 4th): 24 miles to Lake Of The Three Fires State Park (in Iowa) (pics) (today's map) N40.71 -- W94.69 Did not have cell service from about noon yesterday until this morning after I left. Today was the best day of the trip much cooler, glad I stayed over in Clarinda. Several times in the cafe people came up to me that had passed me on the road and asked what I was doing and how far I was going; everyone was very friendly. I was able to camp fairly close to the lake, it was very picturesque with geese landing and the lilies' blooming.
Day 6 (Friday, August 5th): 32 miles to Mt Ayr, IA (pics) (today's map) N40 42.7 -- W94 13.3 Most of the day today I was going into the wind, made for a lot of pedaling. I was in a light rain for the first 10 miles, it was actually very nice.
Day 7 (Saturday, August 6th): 27 miles to Leon, IA (pics) (today's map) N40 44.4 -- W93 45.3 Experienced my first flat of the trip. I could barely see as I coasted into the hollows which were filled with fog. The mist condensed on my glasses turning Iowa into a watery smear.
Day 8 (Sunday, August 7th): 25 miles to near Lineville, IA (pics) (today's map) N40 36.1 -- W93 30.7 Not much to note today, other than I am finally headed south and hope to be in Missouri tomorrow, and hopefully hard shoulders. Feeling really good, I can do this!
Day 9 (Monday, August 8th): 38 miles to Trenton, MO (pics) (today's map) N40 5.4 -- W93 35.9 It was a good day. Once I crossed into Missouri, I was greeted with paved shoulders, which made cycling so much easier. Met a lot of Amish folks along the way. We greeted each other with a wave and went along our respective ways.
Day 10 (Tuesday, August 9th): 25 miles to Chillicothe, MO (pics) (today's map) N39 46.4 -- W93 32.2 Another nice day, although as I wended my way through the narrow streets of Chillicothe, I was practically rubbing elbows with the local pickup trucks.
Day 11 (Wednesday, August 10th): 31 miles to Carrollton, MO (pics) (today's map) N39 22.5 -- W93 29.0 I must have been riding my bike in my sleep last night. When I woke up, my rear tire was flat. Had my first mad dog nipping at my heels today - seemed like old times back 38 years ago in Kentucky.
Day 12 (Thursday, August 11th): 42 miles to Marshall, MO (pics) (today's map) N39 6.5 -- W93 12.8 And yet another flat when I woke up this morning! My actual mileage was 32 today, I took a 5 mile out and back to the Baltimore Bend Winery along the way and enjoyed a really nice time there.
Day 13 (Friday, August 12th): 64 miles to Boonville, MO (pics) (today's map) N38 58.6 -- W92 44.6 Finally got off the highway and onto the Katy Trail. However, after two miles on the Katy, I was overwhelmed by a thunderstorm. My light poncho was no match for the rain and the wind. I was actually getting cold to the point I feared I might get hypothermia, therefore I jumped back on my bike and rode as fast as I could to keep my body temperature up. After about 10 miles, the rain passed, leaving me wet, cold, and muddy. However, things turned to the better as I spent the night at the Hotel Frederick in downtown Boonville, where Jan met me.
Day 14 (Saturday, August 13th): 40 miles to Hartsburg, MO (428 total so far) (pics) (today's map) N38 41.6 -- W92 18.5 I stayed at the Hotel Frederick until the last possible moment. It was such a nice place, I didn't want to leave. The ride was pleasant under blue skies. The trail skimmed along the edge of the river. I stopped at Cooper's Landing by the river and had a beer. The ambience was so nice, I didn't want to leave here either. Rolled into Hartsburg and am staying at the Globe Hotel, built in 1893. Not enough band- width to send pictures, hopefully those will be posted tomorrow evening.
Day 15 (Sunday, August 14th): 44 miles to Bluffton, MO (472 total so far) (pics) (today's map) N38 42.4 -- W91 37.1 Nothing memorable today, just a nice, pleasant, easy ride
Day 16 (Monday, August 15th): 46 miles to Augusta, MO (518 total so far) (pics) (today's map) N38 34.6 -- W90 53.0 Difficult day fighting another east wind. Reached Augusta. Along the way I read that Lewis & Clark benefited from an east bound wind, traveling a then record 18 miles upstream. Had a great hamburger at Murph's in Treloar. Home tomorrow!!
Day 17 (Tuesday, August 16th): 63 miles home (581 total) (pics) (today's map) (overall map) Doug Leer met me at the Augusta Trailhead and escorted me home. It was nice to have someone to talk to on this last day. At one point, we thought we might be a little lost, but didn't mind since we found the Lakeside Cafe on Mallard Lake where we enjoyed BLT's and Pale Ales. As it turned out we were on track. Later, in Kirkwood, we stopped at Ice & Fuel for another beer and met Doug's co-worker Jim Wheeler who kindly paid for our libations. South of Kirkwood we kept running into construction, forcing us to walk and/or carry our bikes around the areas of destruction. The further south we ventured the more treacherous were the roads - more cars, fewer shoulders, and steeper hills. I got home in the dark, plagued by sudden bike breakdowns (wheel and derailleur problems) that had me walking more than riding. But it was a great day and I thank Doug for helping me pedal through those last miles. Next year - the Tour de France - I already own a yellow jersey!

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Last Updated 8/17/2011