We pedal onward, stopping at a sign for a scenic overlook.
And today will be about art - and history: the Capitol Building in Jefferson City houses a mural by Thomas Hart Benton. We've made that our goal.
To get there, we need to cross the Missouri River via the Jefferson City Bridge. It is buzzing with traffic, but we are guided to a truly amazing piece of infrastructure to get us across: this ramp.
Thomas Hart Benton is a Missouri native son, and he painted this mural during the 30s with the WPA. The sheer scope of it boggles the mind.
Frankie and Johnny:
Jesse James:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haun's_Mill_massacre
And during the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of violence. Choosing neither side, it sent troops to both sides (recipe for disaster). Missouri's citizens were often caught in between the Union forces and the Bushwackers - confederate guerillas - with fatal results. This is a history I won't forget. I'm also impressed by the knowledge of these civil servants, and a bit abashed that I am nowhere near as well-versed in the history of my home state of NY.
Before leaving the Capitol building, we visit the hall of busts of famous Missourians and are astounded by how many famous ones there are: Charlie Parker, Josephine Baker, Betty Grable, Walt Disney, Robert Heinlein - of course Harry Truman - and many more. Who knew? Check it out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_of_Famous_Missourians
We are thrilled and fascinated by all of this. But on a practical level, it has not escaped our attention that we passed a bike shop en route to the Capitol.
Our itinerary says there will be no lunch places along tomorrow's route, so we order sandwiches from the Grand Cafe in preparation. Being prepared turns out to be a smart idea, because the next day starts off with a bang.
* Redwheel Bike Shop http://www.redwheelbikeshop.com