Celebrating a Birthday and Father's Day

 My birthday on June 16th and Father's Day are always close together.  Both were nice days.

On my birthday, we went out to Chef Alfredo's, a local Italian Restaurant.  You may remember the story of how we met Chef Alfredo, which can be read here.  He has since retired and sold the business and the restaurant is in a different location, but we were pleased that there was a picture of him on the menu and they seem to still be using his delicious recipes.

I had a yummy chicken pesto dish.

Ken also had a yummy chicken dish.  We tried each others and both loved both.

We were so glad that See's Chocolates has reopened in St. George.  They were closed for awhile.  Ken bought me a beautiful box of chocolates.  They may be half gone already?

My daughters sent a beautiful Vera Bradley purse.  Friends and family also sent happy birthday texts, emails, cards, and Facebook posts.  I felt so loved.

On Father's Day, I made a new recipe for hamburger steaks in onion/ mushroom gravy.  It was delicious over mashed potatoes.  It was comfort food at its finest.

Ken also got fun Father's Day gifts.

Both were lovely days to celebrate.

Biking the Katy Trail in Missouri

 Ken and his biking friends chose the Katy trail in Missouri to ride on their annual trip May 26th-June 2nd.  They had biked it once before in 2015 and enjoyed it so much they wanted to do it again.

They all flew or drove to St. Louis on the 25th.  The friends come mostly from Utah, but also from Mississippi and Washington DC. They left from St. Louis to go to Clinton to actually start their ride the next day.

This was the starting point of their ride.  The trail is designed for bikers, with these kiosks along the way that have restrooms and even bike repair tools.

The Katy trail is built where the railroad used to be, so the trail is relatively flat, with not much elevation gain.

They traveled 35 miles that day to Sedalia, Missouri. 

After spending the night in Sedalia , they started here.

I love this picture.  Many in the group are from the same family- the ones wearing red.  The guy in red on the far right and his wife (2nd from left) lost their teenage son in a hiking accident several years ago.  They are all wearing matching jerseys in his memory.  He was such a good kid and would go on these rides with them.

The ride from Sedalia to Boonville was almost 40 miles.

They spent the night in Booneville and started from there the next morning.

The ride to Jefferson City was 44 miles.

The next day, the 30th, they rode from Jefferson City, MO to Rhineland, MO.

This day's ride was about 32 miles.

In Rhineland, Ken stayed in the Shining Hope Guest House.  Ken loved sitting out that evening watching the fireflies.  There were no eating establishments in this little town, but there was a ballgame going on and a hot dog stand at the ballfield.  Ken walked over there to get a hot dog and ice cream for dinner. 

The next day they rode 42 miles to Washington, MO

Every night their legs were covered in dirt.  Showers felt so good each evening.

They ended their ride in St. Louis, MO.  They went to dinner at Bob Evans Restaurant.  

Total miles=248 miles with a daily average of 41.33 miles.  It was another fun bike trek.  I wonder where they will go next year?