We are just about all packed up and ready to head to the great state of Missouri! Katy Trail here we come! Here’s the latest with the fifth Ian’s Ride.

Russ, my talented and trusty wheelchair mechanic and stepdad, spent a few hours tightening up any loose bolts, greasing up appropriate components and replacing tired bearings. We replaced both drive tires and swapped out most of the pieces along the sip and puff line.

One problem I’m always struggling with are failing casters. I use a mid-wheel drive wheelchair so I have one caster at each corner of the chair. Unfortunately, these are not huge wheels and the bearings aren’t exactly made to hold up to long-distance wheelchair rides. For the first time we have modified casters with larger, beefier bearings. Big thanks to Dave Simon for putting these together. We are going to test them to the max on the Katy Trail.

We have been fine tuning our flying plans and are continuing to do all we can to help the chair make it to St. Louis in one piece. However, it really just comes down to crossing your fingers and being as respectful, friendly and educating to the baggage handlers as possible. We put this handy-dandy sheet together and will attach it to the chair along with some prayer beads, a rabbits foot and a couple horseshoes.

There has been some unfortunate news in that a heat dome is covering the Midwest and will make for some brutally warm days. We will just have to play each day by ear. Likely starting extra early to get as many miles in with tolerable temperatures before possibly getting in air condition for the hottest part of the day. The good news is that the temperatures should start dropping after the first few days.

Then there are concerns of mosquitoes and cicadas, especially in those early hours. Well have no fear! The incredibly talented engineers over at Diestco were able to put together a cicada cage to help me survive the ordeal. I love that they make products to allow people to live their fullest life, especially in the outdoors.

Overall, it’s going to be amazing. I love doing these long rides and I really love advocating for these trails to be expanded, replicated and improved upon. They are an amazing resource for folks all around the nation and I really hope to demonstrate that their doable for just about anybody.

I’m particularly excited to check out the Rock Island Trail that they are currently working to expand. A historic rail line that was built in the 1900s and discontinued in the 80s. Having a defunct line just taking up space doesn’t really help anyone. I hope to see it developed further to add hundreds more miles of rail trails to Missouri’s already expansive network. If nothing else, it sure would inject some much-needed funds to declining communities along the corridor.

Finally, we are excited to have an advocacy event in Jefferson City on Monday, June 24 around 9:30 AM. We’ve got a good group of folks to talk near the capital. Some elected officials, riders and rider groups, a couple advocacy groups and state parks staff. It's bound to be a great opportunity to meet some of the folks who have worked so hard to make Missouri trail systems what they are and to sing their praise from the rooftops.

Well, I’m going to finish packing and pray to the old gods and the new that everything works out. It’s bound to be an adventure one way or another. We’ll be checking in from the road! #GetOutside

•        June 19 – Fly from Seattle to St. Louis

• June 20 – Prep day

• June 21 – Machens, MO to Augusta, MO – 40.4 miles

•        June 22 – Augusta to Rhineland – 38.7 miles

•        June 23 – Rhineland to North Jefferson City – 38.6 miles

•        June 24 – North Jefferson City to Rocheport – 37.7 miles

•         June 25 – Rocheport to Clifton City – 37.5 miles

•        June 26 – Clifton City to Leeton – 42.3 miles

•        June 27 – Leeton to Pleasant Hill – 38.5 miles

•         June 28 – Packing day and cool down

•        June 29 – Fly from Kansas City to Seattle

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