the first annual ride

This weekend marked the first annual ride in honor of June Marie. A small group of family and friends converged in Windsor Missouri just before noon. We readied our bicycles, grabbed a quick bite for lunch, and then hit the trail for the five mile ride west to June Marie's Mystical Mile. It was a beautiful fall day... and a perfect day for a ride.

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There were ten of us on bikes, although only eight in the image below. I think that two of us were taking photos...

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Empty bench...

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Full bench! Our cycling entourage included two of June's brothers, her sister-in-law, a friend from Dallas, and assorted girlfriends... some with their husbands/others.

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Below, another friend drove from Kansas City to Calhoun, where he walked east from the trailhead to meet us at the other end of June's mile.
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One of my favorite images of the day is below... I don't think that Beth and Gary even knew that I took this picture!
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A big THANK YOU to Keith and his crew from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources for completing the work in such a timely fashion... we were all very pleased with the completed project. What a very fitting tribute to someone who was very special to each of us from TeamJUNE.

This is to be an annual ride in honor of June Marie... the fourth full weekend in October. Until next year... In the meanwhile, if you find yourself riding or strolling through the Mystical Mile, please email me a photo for posting on the blog!

the mystical mile

June Marie's Mystical Mile is complete... and real. Thanks to each of you who contributed resources to bringing this project to fruition.
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The guy from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (Keith) that has been our primary contact on this project has been wonderful. Yesterday he sent me a few photos of the completed work. As I opened the files last evening, my breath was literally taken away. What a fitting tribute to a phenomenal woman... sister, friend, daughter...
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This Saturday, October 25 - rain or shine - we'll convene for a first annual gathering at The Mystical Mile. There will be a group picture at June’s bench at 3:00 p.m. to be preceded and followed by lots of memory-sharing and celebrating.

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Mile 253 on the Katy Trail may be accessed from either the Calhoun or Windsor (Missouri) trailheads. If on foot, the Calhoun trailhead would be the better option. We know already of several folks that are planning to join us. Please let either Jenn or me know if you plan on joining us and we haven't already heard from you... and check back next week for photos.

mark your calendar!

There's been a bit of email exchange this week regarding progress on June Marie's Mystical Mile. Mark your calendar! Keith (the parks guy... in the green shirt in the post below) said that it is looking very good for the bench and signs to be installed by the end of next week. He said that the materials are in the park now but that there have been human resource issues with folks being out with the flu.

Sooo... please mark your calendar for the first annual ride (or walk) of June Marie's Mystical Mile on Saturday, October 25. We're hoping to make this an annual gathering of June's family and friends on the fourth weekend of October each year.

The trailheads on either end of the mystical mile are in Windsor or Calhoun, Missouri. Although we don't have a precise agenda for 10/25 in place, please check back here for details if you are interested in joining us. Plans will most likely evolve into an early-to-mid afternoon gathering at the Calhoun trailhead with some sort of potluck picnic or box lunch, a ride/walk through the mystical mile, and lots of story telling!

There are a few bed and breakfasts in the area, as well as camping facilties and a small hotel, so if anyone is interested in making it a weekend outing, the option is certainly available. It could very easily be just a day trip, as well. Please consider coming out to share your stories... rain or shine! If it is raining, the picnic may be compromised and the bike ride would be a bit on the sloppy side... but we could still walk June's mile and head into Windsor to spend the afternoon together at the local cafe.

We hope to see you on October 25!