Day 5 Hermann to Augusta

Yesterday was a nice, relatively short day that was started after a nice full breakfast at the Captain Wolhit Inn.  We met two nice older couples from Missouri that were riding tandem bikes.  Each year they take time to ride the trail.  We all lobbied for them to take a road trip and experience the Pgh to DC trip.  We got started eariler than previous days and were on the trail by 8:15.  There were lots of farms and small streams and the french influence in the area was even more evident in many of the names of the small stream crossings.  We passed a gentleman early that was walking across the country and another that was walking to San Francisco, both using the Katy to make their miles.  There were alot of box turtles on this ride and one of the walkers we met held the smallest turtle any of us had ever seen.  At some point, a small sharp piece of limestone pierces my tire and punctured my tube.  I carry two spares for each of us so I knew this was only going to be a minor setback.  When putting the first tube on, the tube must have pinched and tore...off it came and the last spare went on fine.  Little bit of stress now knowing that I'll be relying on the patch kit for the last 27 mi into St Charles.  As we continued, the tribs to the Missouri have become deeper and even more silted and sandy.  I missed a pic of a deer on a bluff overlooking the Missouri...he saw me and ran.  Probably thinking "damn papparazzi!"  We stopped off in Marthasville for a quick light lunch and then made the last 10 miles.  The trail was exposed to the sun mostly and it was a hot afternoon finish.  We arrived in Augusta around 2:30 and stopped at Augusta Brewing for a shandy that was just off the trail.  Augusta is situated close to the trail but with a hearty steep grade to get up.  Our b&b host greeted us with cold waters, fresh homemade cookies and bread.  We cleaned up and walked a block to one of the many wineries in Augusta.  Russ arranged to have dinner in and we were all together for out last night, sharing stories of the trip.  Rae said its always a little sad when we wind down our trip and I think that is true of this adventure as well.  We will ride our last 27 miles on the Katy today into St Charles, hopefully avoiding some severe weather north of us.  Its been a great trip.