September 23, 2020 - Mokane to Hermann, MO

It was overcast and cool this morning as the guys were getting ready to head out, but they were on their way around 9:00.The first section of the ride was from Mokane to Portland. As they got closer to Portland, they had another detour, this one because of a rock slide. They did need to go to the highway and around, about a mile out of the way!They also passed Standing Rock. While it looks like an isolated boulder that might have fallen from the bluffs, it is actually a remnant of the bluff that has resisted erosion. It is fine-grained sandstone. Standing Rock is supposed to have records of floods that occurred in this area dating back to 1903, but they could not see where the dates and markings were supposed to be.Marcia and I got to Portland and took Penny for about a mile walk while we waited. Penny wanted to make her way down the cliff to go swimming in the river, but that wasn’t an option! We did watch a tugboat make its way down the river.There was a lot of construction on the trail going on and we had to negotiate our way into the parking area! Trucks were running up and down the trail in both directions working on adding sand and gravel, smoothing the trail. Tobey said it wasn’t much fun riding over the soft sand areas!Tobey is wearing the shirt I got him for his birthday a couple years ago, although he refuses to consider himself old!They passed another barn quilt along the trail.From Portland, Marcia and I came on into Hermann to get spots at the City campground for the night, then headed back to the downtown to meet the guys for lunch. They got some shots of town from the bridge as they rode across.Since Hermann is a German town, we ordered takeout from the Hermann Wurst Haus and walked back to the RV to eat. We got the “Best of Show”brat and the “Bacon, Potato, Cheddar” brat and German potato salad. It’s kind of funny that almost everything on the menu is $4.99! It was okay, but Phil makes a better German potato salad!After lunch we walked around the historic part of town. the architecture is reminiscent of Germany.We could see the courthouse from across the river as we came into town and could understand why after seeing the hill on which it is situated! This building was dedicated in 1898 and was build entirely with private funds donated by a local merchant! Daniel Morgan Boone, son of Daniel Boone, was appointed the first commissioner of the county to locate the site for the county seat and jail.

Hermann is named for the warrior Hermann, who led an army of northern Europeans to oppose a Roman intrusion into their homeland in A.D.9. They have a statue in his honor near the city hall building as you come into town.Hermann’s architecture is reminiscent of the Rhine Valley in Germany. The town organized in 1820 and still celebrates its heritage in the traditional “Maifest” (May Festival). There are several wineries in the area but, like many other small communities, many things are closed because of the coronavirus.

The guys took a small break before they rode their bikes to the city park. We had dinner outside before settling in for the night. Our campsites have full hookups for $25 a night and almost all of the sites are full!Today’s ride was 29.9 miles.